Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar and lower thoracic spine is being remanded due to new evidence that may support reopening the claim. The Board will schedule a VA examination to determine if his current back disability is related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected back disability and scars, finding that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent, his scars on the lumbar spine are not compensable, and he has a separate rating of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The Veteran’s degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine remains at 20 percent.

The Veteran's back disability is remanded due to the need for an updated VA examination and any outstanding treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations and service connection, as well as his claim of entitlement to a waiver of recoupment of separation pay. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations and all available VA treatment records must be associated with his claims file.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and left sciatic radiculopathy are rated at 40 percent and 10 percent, respectively. The service connection for erectile dysfunction is also granted. However, the claims for heart disease and sleep apnea are remanded due to additional information received.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased ratings on multiple conditions is remanded due to the submission of new evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claims.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that the current condition is not related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA and private treatment records that need to be obtained.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar degenerative joint disease, finding that it is causally related to the Veteran's active service. The condition was not service connected due to scoliosis as a congenital defect.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and service connection have been dismissed.,The Board has remanded several issues including those related to the Veteran's knees, ankles, feet, lumbar spine, and headaches.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of evidence regarding the Veteran's back disability, and it is recommended that a VA examination be scheduled to determine if the Veteran's current back pain is related to service.

The Veteran's L5-S1 herniated nucleus pulposus, post discectomy, is rated at 40 percent since October 1, 2018. The left lower extremity radiculopathy with foot drop remains rated at 40 percent.

The Board denied service connection for lower back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety), high blood pressure, heart disability, and poor blood circulation. The reasons given were that there was no evidence of a current disability related to active service.,There is no medical opinion linking any of the conditions to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for low back strain with chronic pain and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a link between the in-service injury and current symptoms.

The Board denied reopening of claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right hip, low back, right shoulder, left wrist tumor, bilateral knee conditions, and inguinal hernia disabilities. The evidence submitted did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee pain and left and right knee pain have been reopened. The claim for increased rating for fibromyalgia has been granted, with a maximum of 40 percent assigned. The claim for increased rating for lumbar spine disability has also been granted, with a maximum of 40 percent assigned. The claims for increased ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculitis have been remanded.

The Board is remanding the claims for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral hip osteoarthritis due to outstanding private treatment records from TriCare and a Naval hospital.

An effective date of January 23, 2015 for the grant of service connection for right upper extremity radiculopathy is granted.,Effective dates earlier than June 27, 2016 are denied for the grants of service connection for tension headaches, TBI, tinnitus, mixed anxiety depressive disorder, left upper extremity radiculopathy, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, and thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease.,The Veteran's December 31, 2015 claim referenced neurological damage which should have been recognized as claims including TBI and the nerve damage in his bilateral shoulders. However, no head injury nor left shoulder neurological damage was mentioned.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the claim.