Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, finding that there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between his right knee disability and his low back condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disorder and right foot/right ankle disorder due to insufficient information regarding her periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA. The VA will need to obtain this information and provide additional opinions on the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Veteran's low back condition is rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds that ankylosis does not apply due to maintained range of motion. The cervical spine disorder and bilateral hand neurological disorder are remanded for further examination.,Service connection for a disability manifested by muscle and joint pain other fibromyalgia as due to environmental hazard exposure during Gulf War service is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disorders, osteoarthritis of the right hip and left knee, and a hernia disorder due to incomplete medical opinions regarding their etiology. Additionally, the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for residuals of fracture of the second toe middle phalanx is also remanded.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations for the Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, left knee, and right knee disabilities. The remand is due to incomplete documentation of requests for treatment records and insufficient opinions regarding service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is denied. The case is remanded to determine if she is entitled to a separate rating for radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for a low back disability and chronic fatigue syndrome. The Veteran is also being asked to provide updated VA records and undergo examinations to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral tinea pedis, tinea cruris, and headaches. The Board also remanded the issue of increased ratings for genital herpes.

The Board has remanded two issues: the extension of a temporary total evaluation for convalescence following surgery on August 26, 2009 and the TDIU from April 9, 2011 to April 24, 2012. The remaining issues are not addressed in this decision.

The Board has denied service connection for a low back disability and remanded the issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The case is now being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives and inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to increased ratings for residuals of left ankle sprain, right ankle arthritis, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis. Additionally, the effective dates for the 10 percent ratings assigned to right and left foot hallux valgus are being addressed.

The Board has decided to remand three issues related to service connection and disability ratings for the Veteran's conditions. The VA will need to review additional treatment records before making a decision.

The Board denied service connection for low back disorder, left knee disorder, and left hand numbness as there was no evidence of a nexus between the current conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbosacral back strain and degenerative disc disease, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from April 2019. The remand is due to inadequate examination findings in the previous VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including her right shoulder condition and cervical spine strain with radiculopathy, have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 31, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back condition, right lower extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity neuropathy. The evidence did not support a finding that any of these conditions began during service or were related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that his current condition is related to an in-service injury.

The Board has ordered the Veteran to be examined for his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and left knee strain due to inadequate previous examinations, and to obtain updated medical records. The examination will assess the severity of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate VA medical opinions and outstanding records. The Veteran's right knee, left knee, low back, right hip, and right lung disorders are all being reviewed.