Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease but has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for narcolepsy and sleep apnea due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, right hip replacement, left hip strain, right knee, and left knee. The decision is based on equipoise evidence supporting a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective from November 12, 2016. The Veteran's depression disability with anxious distress is rated at 70 percent since March 2, 2017 and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disability, left leg condition, and right leg radiculopathy due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The issues are related to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claims of service connection for left knee DJD and lumbar spine DDD were granted. The claim for service connection for DDD was not reopened due to lack of a nexus to service. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at a maximum of 20 percent from June 1, 2018 to April 9, 2018 and at a maximum of 50 percent from April 10, 2018 to September 17, 2019. The Veteran's fibromyalgia is rated at the maximum schedular rating.,The Veteran’s TDIU claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to December 14, 2011 is granted. The claim for a temporary total rating due to surgery for the service-connected low back disability requiring convalescence is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability due to the need for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's lower back disability is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, migraines, and bilateral knee disabilities are denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and PTSD, as well as increased ratings for right foot plantar fasciitis and low back disorder, were granted effective April 24, 2017.,However, the effective dates for these grants are not earlier than April 24, 2017.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's conditions are related to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted as service-connected. The claims for bilateral plantar fasciitis, left ankle condition, and right ankle condition are remanded due to incomplete records and need further examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development of his left knee and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine with lumbosacral strain is remanded due to insufficient evidence from the previous VA examination.

The Board has determined that new material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a low back disability, claimed as status surgical changes with L4-5 discectomy. The Veteran's low back disability is related to his active duty service.,The issue of entitlement to increased disability ratings for a bilateral knee disability has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's application to reopen his service connection claims for headaches, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine (neck) disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability is granted. The claim for hypertension remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and bilateral feet are remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the claim for service connection for left leg length discrepancy, but granted claims for service connection for left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, and lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's preexisting conditions were aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lower back and kidney disorders due to inadequate examinations. The Veteran needs new VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition, but remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and develop the record further.