Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's IBS is rated at the maximum schedular rating. The Board has denied a higher rating for IBS, and has remanded the issues of service connection for lumbar spine disability with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and fatigue syndrome, to include CFS.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's claims for right foot and chest pain disabilities. The left shoulder disability is granted with service connection established. The low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's bilateral flat feet and associated back disability are rated at 50% and 20%, respectively, warranting a combined rating of 70%. The Veteran is granted TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a back disorder, including cervical and lumbar spine disabilities. The Veteran's service records show neck pain in November 1968, but no current diagnosis or connection between his service and these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension due to herbicide exposure. The back and hip disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened and is being remanded.,An effective date earlier than January 6, 2015 for the evaluation of generalized anxiety disorder is denied.,An effective date earlier than January 6, 2015 for the evaluation of left lower extremity sciatica is denied.,The reduction in disability rating for ischemic heart disease from 60 to 30 percent was proper and remains valid.,A compensable disability rating for COPD prior to July 19, 2018 is denied. A 10% disability rating for COPD from July 19, 2018 is granted.,An effective date earlier than January 6, 2015 for the evaluation of hypertension is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support an in-service injury or aggravation and that any current condition is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the current severity of his service-connected conditions, specifically his degenerative changes of the left knee, mechanical low back pain with degenerative changes of the thoracolumbar spine, and PTSD. The issues include seeking increased ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's back condition is rated at 40 percent from November 24, 2014. The rating is denied for a higher rating as the evidence does not show unfavorable ankylosis or forward flexion to less than 30 degrees.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches and vertigo, have rendered her unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to March 27, 2019. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to these conditions.

The Veteran's right and left foot hallux valgus, as well as other service-connected conditions, have been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 30 percent since September 22, 2009. The Board has granted a higher rating for these conditions.,TDIU is granted effective September 22, 2009, based on the Veteran's service-connected orthopedic disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the current level of severity of the Veteran's back disability, as the previous decision relied on inadequate medical evidence.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for his lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, cholesterol condition, back condition, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's claims were not granted due to lack of in-service incurrence or nexus.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a lumbosacral or cervical strain, claiming as back soreness. The Veteran did not meet the threshold requirements for hearing loss under VA regulations and there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to his claimed conditions.

The Board denied a separate disability rating for bladder dysfunction secondary to service-connected low back strain, citing evidence that the Veteran's symptoms were not related to her service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examinations and incomplete evidence. The Veteran's low back disability is being evaluated again, and his claim for service connection of a hernia remains denied.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 60 percent effective May 11, 2020, due to incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome resulting in a total duration of at least 6 weeks in the past 12 months.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The issues include bilateral shoulder conditions, low back condition, wrist conditions, psychiatric disorder, hearing loss, foot conditions, and knee conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for higher evaluations of his left lower extremity radiculopathy, back disability, and left ankle disability have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of these claims by the Veteran and his representative.,The effective date for a 10 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy has been denied as it is not earlier than May 30, 2014.