Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's requests to reopen claims for service connection for bilateral knee degenerative joint disease and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis were denied. The Board found no new and material evidence, and the VA examinations did not establish a link between the current conditions and military service.

The Veteran's right knee limitation of flexion is not rated higher than 10 percent, and a separate rating for the meniscal disability has been granted. The back disability secondary to the right knee disability is also service-connected.,The Veteran’s right knee condition remains at 10 percent, but he now receives an additional 20 percent for his meniscal disability. His back disability, diagnosed as DDD, is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the service connection for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) at L3-4 and L4-5, as well as left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with DDD at L3-4 and L4-5, was properly severed due to clear and unmistakable error in granting these conditions on a presumptive basis.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU is being remanded due to the need for updated VA and private treatment records, as well as a comprehensive examination of his lumbar degenerative disc disease.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability, right hip disability, and right ankle disability. The remaining issues of service connection have been remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of her service-connected disabilities. The claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grants are also remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities, as well as service connection for a lumbar spine disorder were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection based on direct service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic lumbosacral strain/mechanical low back pain, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise and resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic lumbosacral strain/mechanical low back pain, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise and resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy was rated at 20 percent prior to May 21, 2018 and after that date the rating is denied.,The Veteran's lumbar strain with anterolisthesis and spondylolisthesis and IVDS was rated at 20 percent prior to May 21, 2018 and after that date the rating is denied.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease with degenerative joint disease with lumbosacral strain was rated at 20 percent, and the Board found that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral shoulder impingement syndrome, low back mechanical low back syndrome, and bilateral pes planus. The right eye condition is remanded for further examination.,Service connection for a left eye disability was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and back disorder, as well as his TDIU claim are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for endometriosis, a rating in excess of 10 percent for a lower back disability, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The VA must obtain updated treatment records from October 2015 onwards and Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve is rated at 20 percent prior to June 14, 2019 and increased to 40 percent from June 14, 2019 to January 13, 2020. Effective January 13, 2020, the Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 60 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected spondylosis L5-S1, bilateral radiculopathy (right and left lower extremities), and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and an increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine have been granted. The issue of a higher rating for DDD of the lumbar spine is being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee and back disabilities, both claimed as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability. The rating of 10 percent for the left knee strain with degenerative arthritis is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbar spine disability, left leg numbness, and tinnitus have been granted. The effective date is not specified.