Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a lower back disability, right hip disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and bronchitis due to outstanding evidentiary development.

The Board has reopened the claims but finds that additional evidence is needed to determine if a lower back condition and migraine headaches are related to service.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding increased ratings for posterior laminectomies, C3-C6, with decompression central canal stenosis and fusion, with residual DDD, as well as increased ratings for DDD and DJD of the lumbosacral spine.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for dermatophytosis of the foot, hand, and nails and a low back condition. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's low back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have been rated as 20 percent disabling each, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted for any of these conditions.,Entitlement to TDIU prior to March 6, 2014, is also remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spine disorder, low back disorder, and right ankle disorder due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, glaucoma, pneumonia residuals, and back disability have been denied.,No new or material evidence was received to reopen any of the previously denied claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the submission of additional VA medical records. The issues on appeal include increased ratings for persistent depressive disorder, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back, bilateral shoulder, left elbow, and left foot disabilities due to inadequate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete or inadequate opinions regarding service connection and TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for low back disorder, headaches, left and right ankle tendinitis, and bilateral eye disorder. The Veteran's preexisting lumbar spine condition was not aggravated by service, and his current disorders were not incurred in or related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability was granted, with a 40 percent rating effective from February 1, 2016 to March 17, 2020. The initial ratings for sciatic radiculopathy were also adjusted accordingly.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine strain, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent due to functional loss and pain during flare-ups. The condition is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine condition.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating and TDIU was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal in writing.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication, including obtaining an opinion on whether the Veteran's back disability is secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for lumbar spondylosis and TDIU prior to April 13, 2015. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's hearing loss and lumbar spine disability were denied higher ratings. The lower extremity radiculopathies received remanded issues for rating determinations.,Effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits were also remanded.

The Board has remanded both issues for further development due to the need for additional VA examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine spondylosis and cervical spine degenerative arthritis, finding that these conditions are related to a motor vehicle accident during active duty.