Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran requested to withdraw all issues on appeal, and the Board dismissed them due to lack of specific error in determination.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations did not comply with the remand directives and thus, the claims for service connection for low back disability and right foot disability are being remanded. The TDIU claim is also deferred as it is inextricably intertwined with the remaining claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability due to incomplete development of evidence. The current appeal is limited to issues related to the rating criteria and not service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity or nexus to service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and chronic dermatitis due to lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran's claims were not reopened.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent for the entire rating period on appeal, with separate ratings of 20 percent each for right and left upper extremity radiculopathy. The lumbar spine disability is also rated at 20 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hip disability, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral foot disability due to lack of evidence linking the disabilities to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including MDD and arthritis of the lumbar spine, have rendered him unable to maintain full-time employment since June 2015. Since September 2019, his other service-connected conditions have also prevented him from maintaining gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding the Veteran's low back disability, including a VA examination that did not address the March 2017 VA physician’s opinion on service connection.

The Veteran's nervous tics were found to be related to his service in the Southwest Asia theatre, and service connection for this condition is granted. The other issues on appeal are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative changes of the lumbar spine with disc degeneration and sinal stenosis, finding that his current condition is related to an in-service injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee, right knee, lower back, and acquired anxiety disorders. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during service or were related to in-service injuries.

The Veteran's flatfeet were aggravated by service and are considered secondary to his service-connected condition.,The Veteran's right hip disability is due to his service-connected flatfeet.

The Veteran's service-connected low back strain with DDD is granted a 20 percent disability rating, effective from the date of service connection. The initial disability rating for PTSD remains at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the claims can be adjudicated due to insufficient medical opinions and new evidence. The Veteran's low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities are being remanded for additional examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including low back disability, neck disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, kidney disability, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. The evidence does not support a finding that these disabilities are related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability. The claim for diabetes mellitus was denied as there is no evidence that it is etiologically related to service or secondary to a service-connected disability. For the lumbar spine disability, the Board found that a 40 percent rating, but no higher, is warranted from October 2017 and thereafter.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of various elbow and knee disabilities were dismissed due to the death of the Veteran while his appeal was pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis B, right hip disorder, lumbar spine disorder, left shoulder disorder, cervical spine disorder, and bilateral knee disorder have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability in any of these conditions.,Service connection was not granted as the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to lack of diagnosis or manifestation within one year after discharge.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar scoliosis with degenerative changes, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service back pain and continuity of symptoms since service.