Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to inadequate rationale in previous VA examination reports.

The Board has remanded several claims due to the need for additional medical opinions and records. The issues include service connection for various conditions, with particular focus on neuropathy and hip conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is being remanded for further evaluation due to the progression of his condition since the last VA examination in January 2017. The VA must obtain all relevant treatment records and schedule him for a VA spine examination.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability has been rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that an increased rating to 30 percent is warranted.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated at 40 percent, and the Board finds no evidence of a higher rating based on current symptoms.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right knee, left knee, and left ankle conditions. However, these claims are still pending as they have been remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.,Service connection for the lumbar spine disability, left foot disability, and right foot disability is denied.,The claims for service connection for left foot disability and right foot disability are remanded due to lack of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and substance abuse disorder) is remanded.

The Veteran's ADHD, back condition, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted service connection. The rating for the back condition has been increased to 40 percent, effective February 10, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a depressive disorder and an increased rating for his back disability was granted effective April 1, 2019. However, the Board denied requests for earlier effective dates.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back and bilateral hip conditions due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in obtaining Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance due to his ability to dress himself, keep himself clean, feed himself, attend to personal needs, and protect himself from daily hazards.

The Board has denied service connection for vision loss disability and remanded the issue of service connection for lumbar spine disability due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, including degenerative disease of the thoracolumbar spine is being remanded due to new evidence received since the last rating decision.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, including residuals of a prostatectomy and erectile dysfunction is being remanded as there is no relevant new evidence submitted since the last rating decision.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction is being remanded due to a VA examination report provided in July 2018.

The Board has identified an error in the duty to assist and has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's left eye corneal stoma scar resulted in a visual acuity of 20/50 uncorrected near vision, and the Board has granted an initial 10 percent rating. The appeal for service connection for back and bilateral hip conditions is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence suggesting a possible secondary service connection for low back disability, and additional development is needed.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to insufficient functional loss assessment during flare-ups of pain in the Veteran's back and right elbow.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for asthma and low back disability have been reopened, with the right ankle disability claim remaining denied.,Service connection has been granted for allergic rhinitis.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to April 11, 2019 for lumbosacral DDD and a rating in excess of 20 percent since April 11, 2019 for lumbosacral DDD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, bilateral knee disabilities, and service connection for a lumbar spine disability due to additional VA treatment records and need for addendum opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability, headaches, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.,Service connection is denied for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and lumbar spine disability.