Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and a right leg condition, finding no evidence of chronic in-service injury or disease that could be linked to his current disabilities. The claim for service connection for a right ankle condition was remanded due to insufficient information.,Service connection was not granted for any of the Veteran's conditions as there was no credible evidence linking them to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of low back condition and bilateral knee pain have been reopened due to new and material evidence. The claim for an effective date prior to November 11, 2017 for the increased evaluation of cervical spine disability has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating in excess of 10 percent for cervical spine disability remains denied.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's condition is more likely due to advancing age rather than an in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Board dismissed the motion for revision based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) because there was no final decision regarding the entitlement to a higher level of SMC, which is pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of left and right knee conditions, as well as a lumbar spine condition, are being remanded due to insufficient examination reports. The Board requires updated VA treatment records and new examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disorders due to incomplete information in the record. The Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder is being evaluated, along with whether his bilateral hip and knee disorders are proximately caused or aggravated by his low back disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between her current condition and her military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not interfere with his employment from September 22, 2009 through February 28, 2010. The Board denied the TDIU claim as he was able to obtain and maintain gainful employment during this period.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his low back disorder was dismissed as the appellant withdrew the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for consideration of entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis in accordance with 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) for the period prior to February 8, 2017.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection of various disabilities, including low back disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability, are remanded due to failure to provide adequate notice regarding scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since May 18, 2018. The case is remanded for further development regarding service connection for a low back disorder.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are granted service connection. However, his back disorder and bilateral knee disorder do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral knee disability have been denied. The claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability is remanded.,Service connection has not been established for the Veteran’s claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render her unemployable or unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation for the period from July 28, 2009 to January 4, 2011.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for clothing allowances for his back brace, right knee brace, and left knee brace for the 2013 calendar year, as well as for his back brace and left knee brace for the 2016 calendar year. The decision is based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities causing wear and tear to his clothing.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of his right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and chronic lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease as he withdrew all issues under appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence linking her current condition to her military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, which includes spondylosis and scoliosis, is rated at 20 percent effective May 6, 2013.

The Veteran's headaches are rated as 10 percent disabling from November 1, 2012, and as 50 percent disabling starting from September 21, 2016. The claims for higher ratings for his lumbar spine and sciatic nerve radiculopathies are remanded.