Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing, special home adaptation grant, or financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment. The decision is granted as these claims are moot due to his receipt of a TDIU.

The Veteran's mild thoracic and lumbar back strain and degenerative disc disease were not found to warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current back disability is related to his in-service injury. The VA examiner must provide an opinion on this issue.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected back disability, bilateral hip disabilities, and bilateral knee disabilities due to issues with functional loss during flare-ups and lack of adequate medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine osteoarthritis and remanded the issue of service connection for hypertension due to potential herbicide exposure.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for sinusitis prior to May 2, 2014. The claim for increased rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and IVDS is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to ensure compliance with previous instructions, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining relevant medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, vision loss, bilateral knee disabilities, and lumbar spine disability. The conditions are considered to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease of lumbar spine, status post hemilanectomy L5-S1 prior to October 3, 2017 due to inadequate medical examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and sleep disorder, but has remanded the claims for right and left knee disorders.

The Veteran's back condition is currently rated at 20% and remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar strain and radiculitis of the right lower extremity due to inadequate examination. The Veteran will need to undergo another VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development regarding her claims of service connection for a back condition, an acquired psychiatric disability, and TDIU. The Board finds that the issues are inextricably intertwined with the issue of service connection for a back condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of November 27, 2009. The Board granted a TDIU from that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for shorter left leg disability and back disability, finding that new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact or raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims. The Board also found no causal relationship between the Veteran's current back disabilities and his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and myeloma. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has found that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen his claims of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, multiple sclerosis, and thoracolumbar spine disorder. The left wrist disorder claim is still pending.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of cardiovascular disorder, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and back disorder.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis is rated at 10 percent, effective March 9, 2009. The rating is denied as the condition does not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's back condition and respiratory condition were denied service connection. The skin condition was remanded for further review.,Service connection for the Veteran’s back condition, respiratory condition (including sleep apnea), and skin condition is being reviewed.