Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no evidence to support an in-service injury or disease and concluding that any current condition is less likely due to active duty.

The Veteran's low back condition, bilateral knee disability, and tinnitus have been granted service connection.,Service connection has also been established for degenerative disc disease of the low back, a meniscal tear with degenerative changes in bilateral knees, an anterior cruciate ligament tear in the right knee, and PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for a hernia disorder and denied an increased rating for lumbar strain. The claim for a higher rating for lumbar strain was granted, but the Veteran is still seeking a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for a stomach condition and remanded the cases of back, left hip, and right hip disabilities due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded four issues for further development: PTSD, lumbar pain, vision damage with eye fluttering/blurriness, and facial scarring shrapnel injury. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and treatment records.

The Veteran is granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis effective January 29, 2010. The effective date for the TDIU prior to February 8, 2012 was not established as it did not precede the filing of the claim by a year.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hiatal hernia, and tinnitus was granted. A 10% rating for low back disability was also granted effective June 4, 2014. The addition of the Veteran’s dependent spouse to his VA disability compensation award began on July 1, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues related to the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc and joint disease, including assessing functional impairment during flare-ups. The issue of an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy prior to November 2, 2015 is not revisited.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck disorder, back disorder, right shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, and hypertension are related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection, including for a right knee disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, and PTSD. The remaining conditions are not addressed in detail as the decision is on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine condition was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board found that his cervical spine condition is related to his active duty service.,Service connection has been granted for PTSD with an effective date set at March 10, 2011.

The Veteran's asthma is granted as service-connected due to exposure to smoke and chemical fumes during military service.,For the lumbar spine disability, a higher rating prior to February 3, 2020 was denied. From February 3, 2020 onwards, the claim for an increased rating remains in denial.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability, specifically his in-service injury. The Veteran is asked to provide any missing VA or private treatment records and an addendum medical opinion will be obtained.

The Board has denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a staph infection/gum disorder and remanded the issues of service connection for a headache disability, rating of low back strain with spondylolisthesis and degenerative disc disease, and ratings for right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, back disability, left knee disability, and bilateral ankle disability are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left knee, right knee, right ankle chronic lateral collateral ligament sprain, and lumbosacral strain.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination for the lumbar spine condition and the TDIU claim is intertwined with the back disability issue.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inconsistencies in previous decisions and new evidence. The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is being considered as secondary to his service-connected leg disabilities, but a clear causal relationship cannot be established.