Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development and clarification of whether the Veteran suffers from ankylosis, which affects his current claim for increased disability rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been submitted. The lumbar and cervical spine disabilities are being reviewed again.

The Veteran's lumbar strain is granted an increased rating of 40 percent effective February 18, 2014. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran was previously denied TDIU for the period prior to March 26, 2009 due to lack of schedular criteria. The Board found that his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from engaging in gainful employment during this time.,For the period from March 26, 2009 to September 11, 2012, the Veteran was granted TDIU as his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and because of the need for further examination.

The Veteran's chronic lumbar strain is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating as there are no findings that warrant an increase in disability compensation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability, right leg disability, left leg disability, and headache disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is advised that a VA examination and medical opinion are needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle strain, left ankle strain, low back muscle strain, and right knee strain were previously denied in October 2012. New evidence submitted since then did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability was also previously denied in June 2013. The new evidence received since that decision does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has determined that the issues of entitlement to service connection for left knee, right knee, left ankle, right ankle, left foot, and right foot disabilities must be remanded due to additional development being required.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for chronic low back pain is remanded due to incomplete examination and the need for new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's numbness of the right lower extremity. The issues are to be addressed in light of the July 1976 and September 1976 service treatment records, as well as a diagnosis of sciatica as early as April 1989.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is rated at 40 percent effective June 11, 2019. The left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy are each rated at 20 percent effective June 11, 2019.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure of the Veteran to report for VA examinations. The claims are now pending and need further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and its relation to his active duty service. The VA examiner’s opinion is inadequate, and a new examination with an addendum is needed.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain disability is being remanded for a new examination to assess its current severity and any associated neurological symptoms.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine, L1, L5-S1 and associated radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities are remanded for further examination.,The Veteran's mid-back disability (previously claimed as left shoulder pain) is also remanded for further examination to determine its relationship to her service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's lumbar disc disease at L5-S1 is currently rated as 40 percent disabling. The Board has remanded the case for consideration of an extraschedular rating and to determine if a TDIU should be granted prior to September 29, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and rating considerations due to inadequate VA examinations in previous determinations.

The Board denied service connection for a lower back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including dementia, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and chronic adjustment disorder.,There is no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury that would support the Veteran's claims.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for bronchitis, a kidney condition, a lumbar spine disability, right foot arthritis, left knee arthritis, and a deviated septum. The claim of service connection for DMII secondary to bilateral knee and foot disabilities and/or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune is remanded.