Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the low back as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation due to issues related to service connection and increased rating for lumbar spine DJD. The case will be returned to the Board after these matters are addressed.

The Veteran is granted a 40 percent disability rating for lumbosacral strain status post decompressive laminectomy (back disability) effective October 8, 2019.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for a back condition due to insufficient evidence and need for further medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's low back condition. The case needs further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, as well as radiculopathy of the left upper extremity due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities due to an in-service jeep accident. The appeals are pending as the evidence does not establish a direct link between the claimed conditions and service, but there is some indication of such a link through the Veteran's statements.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome with degenerative arthritis, lumbar spondylosis deformans, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and left knee degenerative arthritis. The Board found that these conditions are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of records, including medical treatment from VA or private health care providers prior to 2000 and records related to VA vocational rehabilitation benefits. The Veteran is asked to provide information about these records.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied as there is no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes. The maximum schedular evaluation has already been assigned.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded his claims for initial compensable evaluations of left knee strain, right knee strain, and right thumb strain. The effective dates for the grants of service connection are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's right knee and back disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from January 6, 2010.

The Veteran's appeals for higher disability ratings for OSA, hypertension, and headaches have been withdrawn. The claims of higher disability ratings for bilateral knee instability, left knee retropatellar pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis, right knee retropatellar pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis, and cervical spine degenerative disc disease are being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for back disorder and bilateral hip disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. The claim for direct service connection of sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient explanation and lack of a VA examination regarding the Veteran's lower back disability. The Veteran is requested to undergo a VA examination to determine if his current lower back disability is related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to May 22, 2015 and from September 1, 2015 to February 16, 2017 due to insufficient evidence showing he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has denied service connection for right ankle, left ankle, and headaches disabilities. The claims for right knee and low back disabilities are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for lumbosacral strain and asthma as they have not been evaluated in over four years, and there is evidence of worsening symptoms. A new VA examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral eye condition, back condition, and cervical spine condition due to insufficient medical opinions addressing causation.

The Veteran's service-connected ingrown toenail and lumbar spine disability were denied. The ingrown toenail was rated as noncompensable, while the lumbar spine disability was denied a rating in excess of 20 percent.