Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition to include lumbar spondylosis has been granted. The claims for secondary service connection of rheumatoid arthritis of the hands and ankles have been remanded.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral ankle, lumbar, hip, and right knee disabilities, as well as a hernia and chronic left scrotum pain. The Board found no direct or secondary service connection due to lack of evidence supporting the claims.

The Board has denied service connection for a neck disability and remanded the issue of an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for chronic low back syndrome.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various lower extremity disabilities, including lumbar spine disability, bilateral hip disabilities, and bilateral leg disabilities. The matter is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for PTSD and entitlement to TDIU have been withdrawn. The appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to new evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations related to her right wrist disorder, chronic lumbosacral strain, left knee chondromalacia, and arthritis of the right knee due to inadequate examinations in prior VA evaluations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations related to his knee disabilities, plantar fasciitis, radiculopathy, and lumbar spine degenerative disk disease due to insufficient evidence or need for updated examinations.

The Veteran's initial claim for higher ratings for his left shoulder disability and DDD of the lumbar spine was denied. The Veteran had a higher rating (20%) granted for his left shoulder disability since June 28, 2017, but no greater rating is warranted. His DDD of the lumbar spine remains at a 20% rating from May 11, 2012 to September 9, 2019 and higher than that since then.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a TDIU due to service-connected disability prior to September 26, 2003. The Board dismissed the case as there was no specific determination with which he disagreed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic lumbar strain, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, mechanical dyspepsia, and testicular torsion with residual orchialgia were denied. The Veteran was granted a separate rating of 20 percent for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.,The Veteran's chronic lumbar strain is rated at 40 percent due to flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, without ankylosis.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss, OSA, jaw disability, and PTSD with acquired psychiatric disorders to include major depressive disorder and OCD have been granted. The Veteran is now rated at 100% for his PTSD since February 5, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and a TDIU rating are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records, authorization for SSA records, and readjudication.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the claimed back and left knee disabilities. The VA examiner will need to review the service medical records and provide an opinion on whether these conditions are related to active service or any in-service injury.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine was denied. His appeal for an increased rating from March 13, 2019, to 20 percent is also denied. The Veteran's depression has been granted service connection, but no initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent is warranted. A TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities was granted effective December 29, 2017.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, finding that it is not related to the Veteran's service or his service-connected left femoral nerve injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and right knee disorders are denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the original grants of service connection for lumbar spine DDD and associated right lower extremity radiculopathy were incorrect due to CUE, and thus severed from service. The restoration of these benefits is denied.

The Veteran's back disorder, seborrheic dermatitis, and residuals of right knee injury have been granted service connection. The rating for the right TMJ has also been increased to 20 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and neuropathy of the right lower extremity. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a finding that these conditions began during or were related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability, right leg disability, and left leg disability. The Board found no current disabilities in these areas and that there was insufficient evidence to link any of these conditions to service.