Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral ankle, knee, hip, and back disabilities manifested by pain. The evidence is at least evenly balanced that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen claims for bilateral hearing loss, dextroscoliosis and discogenic disease, lumbar spine, headaches, and a neck condition. The claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of recent VA examination and incomplete medical records. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities may require aid and attendance, but further evaluation is needed.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for chondromalacia patellar with arthralgia, left knee; chondromalacia patellar with arthralgia, right knee; left hip condition; low back condition; and right foot condition due to new evidence received since the March 2014 rating decision. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability due to deficiencies in the July 2016 VA examination and new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for erectile dysfunction, gastrointestinal disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, right ankle disorder, cold injury residuals in the lower extremities, low back disability, and heart disability due to incomplete service records.,The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder and sleep apnea are being remanded as they may be related to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board also directed that an opinion should be obtained on whether the Veteran’s hypertension is secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for cold injury residuals in the lower extremities and right ankle disorder are being remanded as they may be related to his service-connected low back disability. The Board also directed that an opinion should be obtained on whether the Veteran’s heart disability is secondary to his hypertension.,The Veteran's claims of entitlement to a higher rating for right shoulder bursitis and degenerative joint disease prior to December 27, 2019, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter are being remanded due to incomplete service records. The Board directed that an examination should be obtained to estimate the functional loss during flare-ups.,The Veteran's claims for heart disability and hypertension are also being remanded as they may be related to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for cervical IVDS of the left and right upper extremities, as well as his TDIU claim, were all granted. The rating for cervical IVDS of the lower radicular nerve of the right upper extremity was set at 40 percent, effective from December 16, 2019.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 10 percent prior to October 15, 2012. From October 15, 2012, to September 25, 2019, the rating was increased to 40 percent. As of September 26, 2019, a higher rating in excess of 40 percent is denied.

The Board denied service connection for a back condition, finding that the Veteran's current back condition did not have its onset during service and is not otherwise related to service.

Service connection granted for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, depressive disorder and PTSD. Service connection is also granted for bilateral hip disability. Ratings in excess of 10 percent are denied for left and right knee conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions from a previous VA examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disability. The Veteran is asked to provide release forms for additional medical records and an addendum opinion will be provided by another examiner.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between his current condition and active military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left shoulder strain, left ankle sprain, right ankle sprain, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability due to a lack of an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's current claimed conditions are related to her military service.

The Board has dismissed all the Veteran's claims for service connection as they are not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since September 28, 2003. The TDIU and DEA benefits are granted effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including an estimate of the Veteran's limitation of motion during flares and after repeated use over a period of time. The case will be returned to the Board for further consideration.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for various disabilities of the back, hips, thighs, and right knee was reopened due to new and material evidence. The claims were subsequently granted as the evidence supports that these conditions are related to his military service and/or service-connected pes planus.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and needs further examination for both ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, diabetes mellitus, lumbar strain/myositis, and left knee condition.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar disc disease and right knee patellar tendonitis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service trauma from IED blasts and carrying heavy equipment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s lumbar spine condition did not meet criteria for higher ratings, but remanded his hip disability claim due to insufficient evidence.