Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current low back disability is related to her military service, specifically the April 2009 injury. The examiner must provide a rationale for why the injury was acute and resolved based on the Veteran's reports of ongoing pain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability and aid and attendance and/or other special monthly compensation due to his service-connected disabilities. The case will be reviewed again with additional evidence and possibly an examination.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not currently severe enough to warrant a compensable disability rating.,Service connection for low back osteoarthritis and left knee arthritis are both denied as the evidence does not establish that these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 were denied due to lack of evidence showing that the disabilities are related to VA treatment or negligence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to conflicting evidence regarding his service-connected disabilities. The issues include lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, neck disability, upper and lower extremity radiculopathies, and TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for gastrointestinal and lumbosacral spine disorders, finding that the Veteran's current conditions did not manifest in service or within one year thereafter and are not otherwise related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity were denied. The Board found that the current evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, left and right knee disabilities and migraines due to uncertainty regarding his periods of active duty. The VA will obtain all relevant service records and schedule a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining information from Social Security Administration.

The Board has remanded this case due to the inadequacy of a previous medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is related to his military service. The Veteran needs a new examination and an informed opinion on the matter.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and awarded TDIU from November 28, 2016. The Veteran's low back disability is considered to be directly related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is not related to service or his service-connected right knee disability, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion, and the criteria for a higher rating under the Formula for Rating Intervertebral Disc Syndrome Based on Incapacitating Episodes were also not met.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 40 percent from February 4, 2014. His lumbar scar is rated at 10 percent. The TDIU was granted effective August 1, 2014.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back strain, cervical spine disability, and left clavicle fracture due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is also being asked to provide information about his employment history and tax returns.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes and therefore, service connection is denied. The claims of service connection for back disability, hypertension, and vertigo are remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error due to the lack of an adequate medical opinion addressing the issue of nexus for the Veteran's current back condition. The case is being remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right knee condition, left knee condition, and lumbar spine condition due to new evidence received after the September 2019 rating decision. The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is now under consideration as it may be related to an in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Board denied service connection for left knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome and lumbosacral strain, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and military service.

The Board has denied the claims for service connection for a right leg disability, left leg disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression), high blood pressure (hypertension), and back disability.,There is no evidence of any chronic or progressive conditions in service that could be linked to current disabilities.