Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's initial disability rating for thoracolumbar spine strain with degenerative arthritis is granted at a 10 percent level effective July 2, 2010.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his back disability was denied. Prior to January 6, 2020, the rating remained at 10 percent. Beginning January 6, 2020, a rating in excess of 40 percent is not warranted.

The Veteran's appeals for residuals of neck injury with hematoma, concussion, and back condition were dismissed. The claims for right knee and left knee conditions are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back condition and acquired psychiatric disorder due to additional development being required, including obtaining treatment records and attempting to corroborate the Veteran's claimed stressors.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability and bilateral knee disabilities, but has remanded his claim for service connection for a back disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his lumbar disability was denied, and the case is remanded due to insufficient evidence showing that the condition meets the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and lumbar spine disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service. The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted due to his PTSD and cluster headaches.

The Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities were initially rated at 10 percent prior to August 5, 2019. Effective from that date, the ratings for both conditions have been increased to 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The application to reopen the PTSD claim was denied on the merits, and the other claims were also denied.

The Veteran's IBS was granted service connection, and the Board found that his left knee disability, right leg/knee disability, and low back disability were aggravated by his service-connected bilateral pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis. The other issues remain on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disability, but the low back disability claim is remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board has remanded the cases of erectile dysfunction and back disability for additional development. The Veteran's insomnia is found to be a symptom of his service-connected anxiety disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, but the issue of service connection for a respiratory disability (COPD) is remanded due to lack of relevant medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is not productive of actual or functional flexion limited to 45 degrees or extension to 15 degrees, and he has been granted a separate 10 percent rating for the symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage. The right wrist disability has also been rated at 10 percent. Service connection was established for low back disorder.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed because he died during the pendency of his claims for service connection for back injury, herniated nucleus pulposus of the lumbar spine, and COPD. The Board does not address the merits of these claims as they are moot due to his death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for a lumbar strain with arthritis due to incomplete information in the VA examination report. The examiner was asked to determine if any lumbar disability clearly and unmistakably pre-existed active service, and whether it was aggravated by service.

The Board has denied service connection for low back, right foot, and left foot disorders due to lack of evidence showing a current disability or link to service. The appeal is REMANDED for further development regarding the Veteran's knee and OSA claims.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as unspecified depressive disorder and panic disorder, as secondary to the service-connected right hip disability. Service connection for a lumbar spine disorder is also granted. The Veteran's right foot neuritis (previously claimed as right foot numbness) is granted as secondary to her now service-connected lumbar spine disability. Service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and respiratory disorder are denied.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for degenerative disc disease of the low back, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy was denied. The case is remanded due to additional development needed.