Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine, right knee, and right hip disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back disability, finding that it is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral leg disabilities and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of complete medical records and incomplete VA examination opinions. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate August 2012 VA examination report, and a new medical opinion is needed regarding whether the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease is related to his service.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn, and all issues are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for allergic sinusitis, thoracolumbar spine strain (back condition), left knee patellar tendonitis, and right knee patellar tendonitis due to a lack of STRs from DPRIS.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for COPD and low back disability due to insufficient evidence in the record. The VA will need to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions, specifically whether they are related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability, specifically whether it is related to service.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, finding no evidence that the current condition was caused by an in-service injury or event.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development of evidence. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations and obtain medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is related to her active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative disc disease is granted a temporary total rating based on convalescence from January 22, 2009 to March 15, 2010 and from May 1, 2010 to September 12, 2010. The appeal for an increased disability rating is dismissed as the Veteran has been granted a 60% permanent disability rating.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not related to service and denied it. The remaining issues of low back disability, skin condition on the back, and left foot disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to incomplete personnel records and other issues.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a back disability and has also granted service connection for this condition. The Board has also granted service connection for bilateral flat foot, finding that it was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim since February 2016 is dismissed as moot. A TDIU on an extra-schedular basis prior to May 24, 2013 is granted due to his service-connected right knee and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for depression was denied. The claim for an increased rating of 50 percent or higher for mixed type headache disorder was granted, effective November 1, 2011 to June 19, 2019. The claim for a higher rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease status post L4-5 discectomy was denied. Separate ratings of 10 percent or higher were granted for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities associated with lumbar spine degenerative disc disease status post L4-5 discectomy, effective February 23, 2007. A noncompensable rating was granted for erectile dysfunction associated with lumbar spine degenerative disc disease status post L4-5 discectomy, effective February 23, 2007. SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ was granted, effective February 23, 2007.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for chronic low back disorder and hepatitis C, as well as rating and effective date determinations. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current spinal disabilities. The right arm/shoulder disability issue is referred to the AOJ.

The Veteran's service connection for basal cell carcinoma and increased evaluations for various disabilities are granted. Effective dates prior to January 20, 2016 for the grants of these benefits are denied.