Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 8, 2017 for the grant of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied. The Veteran also had his initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy denied. However, he was granted a TDIU effective from August 8, 2017.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided to the Veteran are inadequate and remands several issues for further development, including a new examination for hypothyroidism and cardiac arrhythmia. The claims for service connection for left shoulder disability, hypoglycemic seizures, lumbar strain, left knee disability, right knee disability, mitral valve prolapse, and sleep apnea are also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar sacroiliitis with left lumbar facet syndrome was denied. The Board also found that the criteria for a TDIU prior to November 10, 2016, and as of such date, were not met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, attributing it to lack of evidence linking his current condition to service or any presumptive exposure to herbicide agents. The Board also found that arthritis did not manifest within one year of separation from active duty.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical and lumbar spines, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar sprain with Schmorl's node and retrolisthesis, as well as his claim for TDIU due to service-connected lumbar sprain. The Veteran must be afforded a new VA examination and additional records are needed.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, bilateral hip disorder, lumbar spine disorder, hypertension, and bilateral pes planus as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis with plantar calcaneal.

The Board has remanded the issue of increasing the rating for a low back disability due to inadequate examination results and missing treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 40 percent for DJD of the lumbar spine prior to March 24, 2011 was granted. The claim for a higher rating after that date and for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The appeal regarding a low back disorder is remanded and will be decided on its merits.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and retrospective medical opinion regarding his service-connected degenerative disc disease, L5-S1. The Veteran contends that the current ratings do not adequately capture his level of impairment and that an earlier effective date for the 20 percent rating should be granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the denial of service connection for a lumbar spine condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disorder, tailbone disability, bilateral knee condition, bilateral foot impairment, bilateral ankle disorder, right foot calcaneal spur, and residuals of a pilonidal cyst excision. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to her active service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to events in service. The claim was reopened due to new evidence submitted since the previous denial.

The Veteran's right hip disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.,The Veteran's low back disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.,The Veteran's groin disability is remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted due to conceded in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's right shoulder degenerative arthritis with AC separation and calcific tendinopathy is granted as secondary to a deltoid injury during service.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, left hip disorders (claimed as arthritis), right hip disorders (claimed as arthritis), bilateral tinnitus, and a mental health disorder or PTSD. The decision found no credible evidence of in-service injuries or diseases that could lead to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, cervical spine disability with left upper extremity radiculopathy, hypertension, and psychiatric disability due to outstanding inpatient/clinical records from March 1976 to May 1977 at Orlando Naval Hospital. The VA is instructed to attempt to obtain these records directly from the hospital.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy, and a low back condition. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for a low back disability due to insufficient examination and incomplete reasoning. The Veteran's lay statements regarding her symptoms during and since service are not considered in the current VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to the need for additional medical examinations and records, as well as clarification of certain events during service.