Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has denied service connection for left knee, right knee, and lower back disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service. The case is remanded for further examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine and remanded the issue of service connection for cervical spine disorder due to potential secondary relationship.

The Veteran's service-connected back and psychiatric disabilities are found to be causally related to his obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).,The Veteran is determined to be unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a separate 20 percent rating for left lower extremity sciatica associated with his service-connected back disability is remanded due to procedural issues.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete records and the need for new nexus opinions. The Veteran's hearing loss is not compensable, but his other conditions remain under review.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination reports and a need for an addendum medical opinion that considers the Veteran's service in Alaska during ACDUTRA and his in-service back strain.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle, low back, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression), bilateral hip disability, and bilateral leg disabilities. However, as these conditions are not established by competent medical evidence, service connection itself is denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent since September 30, 2019.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder, but denied service connection for his left and right shoulder injuries.

The Veteran's residuals of a right thumb fracture are rated at 10 percent effective the date of service connection. Service connection for cervical spine disability and lumbar spine disability is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected left below the knee amputation with bursitis and low back disability have been denied. The current evaluations of 60 percent and 40 percent, respectively, are found to be appropriate.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service. His lumbar and cervical spine disabilities are not related to his military service. His acquired psychiatric disorder is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine spondylosis was rated at 20 percent prior to December 1, 2010. The Board denied a higher rating as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for total left and right knee replacements as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back disability. A 40 percent rating was granted for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity effective June 16, 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration. The Veteran's back disability is related to service, but his respiratory disabilities are not.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected psychiatric disorder, low back disability, left knee disability, and hearing loss. The RO must conduct new examinations to assess the current severity of these disabilities and issue an SOC regarding the effective dates of the awards.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's back condition is secondary to her service-connected bilateral knee arthritis or directly related to her military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection, increased rating for right knee and low back disability due to outstanding private treatment records and inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 28, 2013 for the grant of service connection for hemorrhoids is denied. The application to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disorder is granted and remanded for further development.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent prior to April 1, 2013 and 40 percent thereafter. The claims for right hip bursitis and left hip bursitis are denied.,The Veteran’s low back disability was evaluated under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine (Diagnostic Codes 5235 to 5243).,The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated based on limitation of motion, with forward flexion at 0 to 90 degrees.