Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability with an effective date of December 26, 2018. The decision is based on the fact that the initial application to reopen the claim was filed within one year of the May 2019 rating decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lower back disorder is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of back condition and osteopenia in the back due to the appellant's withdrawal of all appeals.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for his left hip, right hip, lower back, and right knee disabilities as secondary to his service-connected residuals of fractured left medial malleolus. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his active service.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 10 percent prior to July 20, 2017 and at 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran's sciatic radiculopathy of the left leg is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back condition.

The Board has determined that there were errors in the duty to assist and remands the cases for further development.

Service connection is granted for PTSD. Service connection is denied for cervical spine disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral knee disability. The claims for service connection of the bilateral shoulder and bilateral knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and an incomplete VA examination. The examiner needs to provide a more detailed opinion regarding whether the Veteran's back disability is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claim for a VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with DJD, L5-S1 (back condition).

The Veteran's appeal to reopen his claim of service connection for a left knee disability is granted. The claims for psychiatric, right and left CTS, cervical spine, and low back disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional evidence or examination.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent prior to November 29, 2016 and at 40 percent from January 1, 2017. The rating in excess of 40 percent for the period after August 20, 2018 is denied.

The Board has remanded the claim for additional development due to new information provided by the Veteran, including medical articles supporting his claims. An independent medical opinion is needed from a non-VA specialist in orthopedics.

The Board has vacated the June 13, 2019 decision and remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions. The lumbar spine disorder claim is granted, but other claims are still pending.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions due to his withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back condition, Hepatitis C, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to a lack of adequate opinions from VA examiners. The examinations were not conducted as per the Board’s previous instructions.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, but the other issues related to back disability, left leg disability, hypertension, and GERD are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and chronic stomach disorder (GERD) as the evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, secondary to his service-connected left knee osteoarthritis, is being remanded due to the need for further development. His claim for an increased rating for left knee osteoarthritis remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are considered for eligibility in obtaining specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant. However, the Board notes that additional evidence has been received and requires further review by the AOJ.