Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's hypertension is denied as there are no compensable symptoms. The Veteran's low back strain is remanded for further evaluation due to inadequate previous examinations.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including evaluations for lumbar spine and right thumb conditions, a compensable evaluation for a right thumb disability, and service connection for gluten intolerance and bilateral knee disabilities. The remand requires additional examinations and opinions regarding these issues.

The appeal for service connection of various conditions, including lumbar spine disorder, bilateral eye disorder, headaches, TMJ, right and left knee and ankle disorders, erectile dysfunction, left and right lower extremity disorders is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for additional development on the issues of service connection for a left knee disability and evaluations for his hemorrhoidectomy and sphincterotomy, right knee with Osgood-Schlatter’s disease, and degenerative disc disease at L5-S1. The TDIU issue is also REMANDED.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability is rated at 10 percent and the Board finds it too remote in time to serve as evidence of current severity. The claim must be remanded for a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to insufficient nexus opinions provided by the VA examiners. The Veteran's back and knee conditions are being reviewed again with additional medical evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and assessments.

The Board has denied service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability and remanded the claim for respiratory disorder (COPD). The Veteran's current lumbosacral arthritis is not considered to be related to his military service, as there was no evidence of such in-service. For COPD, the Board found that an addendum opinion is needed due to conflicting medical records.

The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the lower left extremity (sciatic nerve) associated with degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is granted a 20 percent disability rating, effective from July 2019. The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine remains at a 20 percent disability rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of his low back and neck disabilities, finding no nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and remanded the issues of service connection for back, left knee, and right knee disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for thoracic scoliosis and remanded the issue of service connection for low back disability, to include degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine. The case is now being returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, but the claims for left foot disability, left elbow disability, and back disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to unresolved issues regarding the Veteran's service connection for lumbar spine disability, TDIU, and SMC. The claims are pending further development.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the thoracic spine is rated at 40 percent since December 14, 2009. The appeal for TDIU from December 14, 2009 to January 25, 2016 was denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back, left ankle, and right knee disabilities. The cases are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not shown to result in permanent disability, and therefore the criteria for a permanent and total rating under VA regulations are not met.

The Board denied a claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with dextroscoliosis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not warrant a higher rating based on limitation of motion or neurological impairment.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to inadequate examinations in March 2018. The Veteran needs further VA examinations to assess his lumbar spine, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has decided to remand this case for further examination and rating considerations.