Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with the April 2019 remand directives and requires another remand to obtain an addendum medical opinion addressing the Veteran’s functional impairment during flare-ups of his lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he continues to operate his own bingo supply business and only missed one week of work in the past year. The evidence does not support a finding of marginal employment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee, left arm, and lower back disabilities. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and TDIU due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that new and material evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has remanded three service connection claims for right lower extremity disability, left lower extremity numbness, and a disorder of the lumbar spine due to outstanding VA medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service records and a VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's low back condition and psychiatric disorder are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been remanded. Additionally, his claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to his service-connected conditions has also been remanded.

The Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection of ischemic heart disease was denied. The Board also remanded several issues related to lumbar myofascial syndrome and associated radiculopathy.

The Board has denied increased ratings for lumbar spine strain and bilateral knee arthritis, with the case being remanded for further examination of the knees.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, left hip disorder, left knee disorder, and left foot disorder. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for chronic sinusitis and deviated nasal septum was also denied.,Service connection is not granted for the claimed conditions as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease that could be related to current diagnoses.

The Veteran's service connection claims for arthritis of the lumbar spine and left ankle have been granted. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability has been granted a 20 percent rating since December 18, 2018. He also received separate 10 percent ratings for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is related to his military service. A medical opinion is needed to determine if there is a link between the current disability and the in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spondylosis with compression fractures at T8, T9, and S1 due to insufficient information regarding functional limitations caused by flare-ups or repetitive use.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and migraines due to insufficient evidence. The case will be returned to VA for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues of increased disability evaluations and service connection. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to evaluate his shoulder and back disabilities, as well as a PTSD examination and an evaluation of his claimed tremors.

The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD and spondylolysis were rated at 40 percent effective from January 8, 2020.