Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board has remanded his claims for service connection of back and knee disorders due to insufficient evidence. The current rating does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to a lack of VA examinations. The issues include initial ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including radiculopathy and chronic lumbar strain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a back disability, left ankle disability, and restless leg syndrome have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,New evidence has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection of a back disability and left ankle disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted at a 40 percent rating as of July 14, 2014. Service connection for bilateral hip disability is also granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for a VA examination to evaluate the Veteran's back condition.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability is dismissed as he has withdrawn the claim.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for arthritis of both hips, both hands (to include thumbs and wrists), toes, bilateral shoulders, and lumbar spine, as well as gout.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for low back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawals of his appeals.

The Board has withdrawn the appeal for TDIU due to notification from the Veteran. The cases of increased ratings for low back and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for DJD of the lumbar spine, finding that the Veteran's lay statements outweigh a negative nexus opinion and resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and treatment records.,An effective date prior to January 2, 2016, is denied for all awards of service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine DDD and fibromyalgia due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations. The case is returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and a low back condition have been reopened, but the case is being remanded due to new evidence. The claim for a compensable rating for post-surgical residuals of pilonidal cyst remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and neuropathy, finding that there is no evidence to support these conditions being directly related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for migraine headaches, low back disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate examination reports and failure to comply with previous remand instructions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right ankle condition due to lack of evidence linking his current strain to his in-service injury.,The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a low back condition, insomnia, and OSA. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding medical records not being obtained. The issue of an increased rating for cervical spine degenerative disc disease remains under review.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle, right ankle, and low back disorders due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with DDD L5-S1 and radiculopathy of left lower extremity associated with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine were denied. The VA determined that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on his service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability, including as secondary to a service-connected lumbar spine disability. The evidence received since the final denial does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.