Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining private treatment records and conducting new VA examinations to assess the severity of his lumbar spine disability and knee conditions. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, low back disability, right knee disability, and right ankle disability. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service physical work and his current symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right eye disability, tension headaches, and lumbar strain due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's current right eye disability may be related to his in-service injury, but this needs further clarification.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a back disability with herniated discs and stenosis, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and lumbar radiculopathy have been granted.

The appeal to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability is granted. The appeal to determine the merits of the low back disability claim on the basis of direct service connection is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for DDD of the cervical spine was denied. The separate rating for LUE radiculopathy associated with his cervical spine disability was upheld, and the TDIU prior to January 31, 2018, was also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete VA treatment records and issues with the reasoning provided in previous decisions. The case will be returned for additional development.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to November 30, 2011. The Board denied his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating for this condition. The Board denied a higher rating as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating. For TDIU, the Veteran was found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities and granted TDIU.

The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability claim is also remanded as an adequate VA examination was not provided in the previous February 2015 neck conditions examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to obtain treatment records from the Veteran's period of incarceration and for a new VA medical opinion on whether his low back disability is related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected multilevel degenerative disc disease and degenerative facet arthropathy of the lumbar spine is granted a 20 percent disability evaluation, effective from September 27, 2010.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased evaluations and initial compensable evaluations for degenerative disc disease at L4-L5, associated radiculopathies, and TDIU due to service-connected disability. The Veteran is also required to provide clarification on his intention regarding the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of additional VA treatment records associated with the Veteran's electronic claims folder since the March 2016 SSOC.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for VA purposes, and therefore service connection is denied.,There is no evidence of an in-service event or disease related to her bilateral eye disorder. Service connection is denied.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine strain is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his disability, including any flare-ups and functional loss.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected. The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding her back, right toe, and bladder disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection, and TDIU due to inadequate examinations in previous decisions. The issues are related to his chronic low back strain, right shoulder disorder, and upper body disability.