Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his service-connected lumbosacral spine with invertebral disc syndrome is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a review of the September 2019 VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability was granted, and he is now receiving a 30% rating for IBS. The increased rating claim for IBS has been denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluation and service connection for a bilateral foot disability due to insufficient medical evidence of record. The Veteran will need to provide updated VA treatment records, private medical records, and undergo new examinations to determine his current level of disability and whether it is related to his service-connected low back disability.

The Board has remanded the issues of rating DDD of the lumbar spine, left and right lower radiculopathy, left patellofemoral syndrome (knee condition), right patellofemoral syndrome status post ACL reconstruction using hamstring autograft and lysis and resection of adhesions without manipulation, and pitted keratolysis for further development. The issues on appeal are related to the merits of service connection.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's low back disability, including a ruptured disc, is related to his active duty service and remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to consider the newly reopened claim of service connection for a back disability. The RO is required to reconsider this issue and provide a supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent evaluation for multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities is denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support finding that his low back disability began during active service or was otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease. His alopecia areata and Pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) were also evaluated, with no compensable ratings assigned due to lack of supporting medical evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and a lumbar spine disorder, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of back disability. The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents in Vietnam and has current diagnoses of type II diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, bilateral ear disabilities, and lumbar disc disease and osteoarthritis.

The Board denied service connection for back and neck disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to determine if any left lower extremity disability is caused or aggravated by service-connected mechanical low back pain with degenerative disc disease and soft tissue trauma.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient records from Fort Riley, Kansas. The Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability will be reconsidered with additional development.

The Veteran was granted service connection for dizziness as secondary to medication taken for his service-connected degenerative disc disease.,An effective date of August 1, 2013, is assigned for the increased rating of 20 percent for left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar stenosis with degenerative arthritis and right lower extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and a retrospective medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip, hand, and thoracolumbar spine disabilities due to incomplete examination reports and the need for further medical evaluation.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and a rating in excess of 10 percent for his low back disability. The Veteran will be asked to provide information about any treatment he received, and VA will seek those records. An orthopedic examination will also be arranged.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new VA treatment records and SSA records being associated with the claims file since the July 2018 remand. The issues of higher initial disability ratings for left knee disability, a lumbar strain, and entitlement to TDIU are now before the Board.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of his spine and bilateral hip conditions, finding that it is less likely than not that these conditions are due to or aggravated by his active duty service or by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's low back disability is not rated higher than 10 percent prior to June 19, 2012 and not rated higher than 20 percent thereafter. The appeal for TDIU was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection were not properly received until June 12, 2014. As such, an effective date earlier than June 12, 2014 is denied. The Board also found that there are issues with service connection for left knee and low back disabilities as well as a foot fungus disability which require further examination and opinion.