Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's back, right knee, plantar fasciitis, skin disability of the feet, OSA, headache, bilateral eye, and allergies disabilities are remanded for further examination and determination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back pain, left and right great toe frostbite, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The issues include determining whether a current low back disability is related to service or an in-service injury, obtaining VA treatment records, and assessing the impact of gout on employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for further development. The lumbar disc space narrowing L2-L3 claim remains denied, while the right knee patellofemoral syndrome claim has been changed in diagnostic code.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for PTSD and TDIU. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent from January 30, 2018 onward, while his right and left knee disabilities are each rated at 10 percent. The appeal remains pending on these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a left hip disability and lumbar spine disability, as secondary to his service-connected left ankle traumatic joint disease, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a relationship between these disabilities and the service-connected condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine disorder, left hip disorder, and right hip disorder. The Board found that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale for a private physician's opinion and lack of an addendum. The Veteran’s low back disability is related to his service, but further development is needed.

The Board denied a higher initial rating for the Veteran's lumbar strain with spondylosis, finding that at no point during the appeal period his forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine was limited to 30 degrees or less and he did not have favorable ankylosis. The current 20 percent rating is considered appropriate.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA examination and incomplete medical records. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities need to be evaluated for eligibility in acquiring specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's service connection claims for low back, bilateral hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities as secondary to her service-connected bilateral ankle disability.

The Veteran's back surgery did not require at least one month of convalescence and did not result in severe postoperative residuals, so he does not meet the criteria for a temporary total rating for convalescence following surgery.

The Board has granted service connection for disability of the lumbar spine, finding that it is caused or aggravated by service-connected disabilities of the feet.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his National Guard service in 1987 and the potential aggravation of his current spine and knee conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the nature and severity of his service-connected back disability and whether his depression is aggravated by his service-connected back disability. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's disability rating for lumbar spine osteoarthritis was granted at a 20 percent level, effective as of the date of the May 2016 VA examination.

The Veteran's arthritis of the lumbar spine is denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.,Service connection for herpes (genital) is granted due to the Veteran's STRs showing a diagnosis and treatment in service, despite lack of documentation.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing VA treatment records and incomplete service treatment records from the Army Reserves. The Veteran's claim for reopening service connection for a back disability will be reconsidered with these additional records.

The Veteran's TDIU claim prior to October 15, 2015 is being remanded due to the need for referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's claim for a neck disability was reopened, and he is now entitled to an increased rating of 40% for his lumbar spine disability. Other claims are remanded.