Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of polyneuropathy of the left lower extremity is granted. The claims for service connection related to low back, ankle, and foot disabilities are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and other issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, and back disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's lay statements will be considered in forming opinions on causation.

The Board denied the claim for service connection of a low back disability, concluding that there is no evidence to support a link between current back problems and military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, headache disability, back disability, right knee disability, and right shoulder disability due to a lack of current disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine disability and remanded the issues of left eye disability and right hand, index finger disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine condition and a left shoulder condition, with the latter being secondary to the former. The appeal is remanded due to the need to obtain SSA disability records related to the Veteran's back injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of left knee, low back, left ankle, and right ankle disorders due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, including status post lumbar fusion, diskectomy, DDD, and facet joint disease. The VA examiner found no evidence that the current lower back disorders are related to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including back disability and psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is granted as secondary to service-connected right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome and bilateral pes planus. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, migraine headaches, right and left knee patellofemoral syndromes are all denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hand and lumbar spine disabilities due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of evidence regarding the onset of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine due to inadequate examination reports and a need for further evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and thoracolumbar strain have been granted a disability rating of 50 percent, effective from March 30, 2018. The cervical strain has not met the criteria for a higher rating.

Service connection has been granted for lumbar strain, right knee strain, and right ankle strain.,The Veteran's low back disability, right knee disability, and right ankle disability are all found to be related to service.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 60 percent, effective July 18, 2001. The Board denied a higher rating and granted TDIU due to the service-connected back disability.

The Board has denied service connection for left shoulder disability, chest pain, low back disability, skin disability, and bilateral foot disability as secondary to a skin disability. The evidence does not support the Veteran's claims of in-service onset or causation.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 20 percent, effective August 2, 2019. The claim for increased rating remains denied as there is no evidence of forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to April 11, 2016.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, neck disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.