Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right leg sciatica and his service-connected right hip condition. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if there is a link between these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin disorders of the groin and feet, as well as lower back, right shoulder, and left knee disorders. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of lumbar spine with sciatica and secondary service connection for sciatica as related to his lumbar spine condition.

The Veteran's low back and upper back disabilities are found to be related to his active service, while the skin condition is not. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations and inextricably intertwined issues. The cases are being returned to the VA for further review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a broken coccyx was denied because there is no evidence of current disability or causal relationship to his in-service injury. The claim for TDIU was also denied as the Veteran does not have sufficient combined disability rating and his inability to work is not due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for GERD, PTSD with MDD, and TDIU due to unresolved issues. Service connection for GERD is denied as there is no evidence of onset during service or a nexus to service. The Veteran's PTSD and MDD are currently rated at 70 percent but the Board finds that the current rating adequately reflects his disability.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) from November 11, 2019. The TDIU was also granted prior to that date on an extra-schedular basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and SMC based on need for aid and attendance, loss of use of buttocks, loss of use of legs, and loss of use of hands. The claims are also remanded to obtain VA medical records and employment history information.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations, with a separate rating for radiculopathy of both lower extremities. The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective December 03, 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's neck and back conditions, finding that they are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding that his current condition is not related to any disease or injury during service and arthritis did not manifest within one year of discharge.

The Veteran's lumbar back disability is rated at 40 percent, but no higher, for the entire period on appeal. The Board affords the benefit of doubt to the Veteran and grants a 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, lumbar spine disorder, asthma, and tinnitus) have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. As a result, the Board has granted a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's left leg disability is rated at 20 percent for the entire appeal period, and her back disability remains remanded for further review.

An effective date of March 25, 2009 is granted for the assignment of a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's right knee chondromalacia patella was rated at 10 percent since March 25, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU was denied. The SMC at the housebound rate is granted from June 20, 2019.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal, leaving no issues remaining for review.

The Veteran's low back disability has been restored to a 40% rating effective July 1, 2016.,The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for his low back disability.

The Veteran's low back condition, rated at 20 percent since March 8, 2017, is not considered disabling enough to warrant a higher rating.