Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, bilateral foot, and lumbar spine disabilities as secondary to his right knee disability. The VA examiners found no evidence of a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service or any other condition.

The Veteran's lumbar intervertebral disc disease and arthritis are rated at 20 percent, effective October 23, 2019. The right lower extremity radiculopathy is also rated at 20 percent, effective October 23, 2019.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical and thoracolumbar spine conditions, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand several cases for further development, including obtaining medical records from Froedert Memorial Hospital and clarifying the Veteran's claims regarding sexual harassment allegations and PTSD. The effective dates of certain benefits are also being reconsidered.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted an increased rating of 40 percent from September 17, 2019. The effective date is not specified as the decision only addresses a change in rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, right knee chondromalacia with tibial stress injury, left shoulder strain, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and spondylosis, bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, left great toe strain, and right great toe strain. The reasons include the need for updated VA outpatient treatment records and more contemporaneous examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for coronary artery disease is granted at a 60 percent rating prior to March 23, 2018.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected disabilities is granted.,Service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper extremities is granted.,Service connection for lumbar spine disability is denied.,Total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted from July 29, 2013.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his in-service injury and his current condition.

The Veteran's upper extremity peripheral neuropathy and cervical spine degenerative disc disease disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation due to recent assertions of increased severity.

The Board has denied service connection for Degenerative Joint Disease of the lumbar spine and Plantar fasciitis as secondary to a right femoral neck fracture, finding that there is no evidence or allegation that these conditions are related to military service on a direct or presumptive basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's low back disability is related to his service or his service-connected peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The Veteran testified that he hurt his back during service, but a VA examination must be conducted to determine if there is any connection between these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorder and low back disability. The cases will be further developed to determine if service connection can be established.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing the disability was incurred in or aggravated by service. The Veteran's STRs are silent for complaints, treatment, or diagnoses related to hearing loss.,Service connection for back disability and OSA is remanded as there is insufficient information regarding the etiology of these conditions based on the provided records.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spondylosis is rated at 10 percent prior to July 17, 2012 and at 20 percent thereafter. The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the condition from September 23, 2019. However, the claims are remanded for further development regarding the appropriate ratings for the period before July 17, 2012 and from July 17, 2012 to September 23, 2019.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent effective February 19, 2013. The claim for increased ratings for lower extremity radiculopathy remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but denied service connection for back and eye conditions. The Veteran's current diagnoses of degenerative arthritis of the spine, maculopathy, and pseudophakia were not related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to his service-connected degenerative arthritis and IVDS of the thoracolumbar spine, as well as several secondary service connection claims for various joint conditions. The Board has determined that additional development is needed in all these matters.

The Veteran's appeal for higher disability evaluation of his left thumb degenerative joint disease is remanded due to incomplete examination. The TDIU issue is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the initial rating claim.

The Veteran's back disability, including thoracic kyphosis and intervertebral disc syndrome, has not met the criteria for a higher rating of more than 20 percent since April 5, 2011.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, effective December 17, 2019. The rating period prior to this date remains unchanged.