Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, spina bifida, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including as residuals from TBI). Service connection was denied for bilateral pes planus and total abdominal hysterectomy.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's low back disability due to an in-service injury. The Board found that her current condition is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy prior to June 11, 2018 was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy from June 11, 2018 was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lower back disability is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 20 percent for thoracolumbar strain prior to October 30, 2016, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter due to inadequate VA spine examinations. The Veteran must be afforded a new VA examination that provides estimates of range of motion during flare-ups or explains why such estimates cannot be provided.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability was denied, as the evidence did not show forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less.,The Veteran was granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities preventing him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and its relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his low back disorder. The unspecified anxiety disorder claim remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected low back disability, specifically during flare-ups.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment since January 31, 2013. Effective October 8, 2019, the Veteran is granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher evaluation for chronic posttraumatic migraine headaches associated with cervical strain is granted, while the claims for increased ratings for cervical strain with degenerative disc disease are denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is being remanded for further evaluation, including an opinion on whether his current back disability is related to his service-connected foot disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for costochondritis, claimed as rib injury; chondromalacia patella, left knee; right knee condition; and degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine were denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection was not granted for mild meibomian gland dysfunction, left eye.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spondylosis and stenosis, as well as lumbar spine arthritis, combined with his other disabilities to meet the criteria for SMC based on need for aid and attendance. The effective date is set at January 30, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, lumbar spine disability, and SMC based on aid and attendance or housebound status due to outstanding VA treatment records and scheduling of examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as he submitted fraudulent documents in the pursuit of VA compensation benefits.,The Board found that the Veteran knowingly provided numerous fraudulent documents, including those printed on an inkjet printer not available until 1976 and predated that time.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the claim for service connection of a low back disability can be adjudicated. The case will be remanded to obtain authorization from the Veteran and request his private chiropractic records, and any other outstanding private medical records.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected scars of the left lower lumbosacral lipoma has been dismissed.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for eye condition (loss of vision) and tinea corporis previously claimed as a skin condition have both been denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disability. The claim will be reconsidered after obtaining a new VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability and a bilateral leg disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that caused current disabilities. The preponderance of the evidence showed that any current conditions were not related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus due to a lack of evidence showing chronic symptoms in service or within one year after separation from service.,The appeals for left hand numbness, right hand numbness, and erectile dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II are being remanded as the RO has not yet adjudicated these issues.