Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The issues include low back, bilateral hip, bilateral ankle disabilities, and an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and thoracic spine scoliosis and lumbar spine lordosis claims.

The Board has denied service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae due to lack of current disability. The case is remanded for further examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's left knee disorder and lower back disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for constipation, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine. Other claims remain pending.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, but has remanded his right knee disability claim due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, the maximum available rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and back disorder. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of repair rotator cuff tear of right shoulder is granted. The Board also remanded the issues of entitlement to a higher rating for lumbosacral and thoracic degenerative joint disease, degenerative disc disease, and spondylolisthesis, and entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's right and left hip disabilities are granted as service-connected.,Service connection for thoracolumbar DJD is granted as secondary to the Veteran's hip disabilities. Service connection for Reynaud’s syndrome is denied, and service connection for anemia is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar and cervical spine, headaches, sinusitis, deviated nasal septum, bronchiectasis, kidney cyst, and erectile dysfunction. The reasons include the need for additional VA examinations to address the etiology of these conditions in light of the Veteran's service in Southwest Asia and exposure to burn pits.

The Board has granted an initial evaluation of 10 percent for subluxation of the right peroneal tendon, effective from March 24, 2020. The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was previously resolved as part of a total grant of benefits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and new evidence of worsening symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for melanoma, degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, prostatitis, and eczematoid dermatitis and xerosis as they were not related to service or due to exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has decided to remand this case for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to inadequate examinations in previous rating decisions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, tinnitus, sciatica, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, right hip disability, left hip disability, and bilateral foot disability are all granted. The claim for TDIU is also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment from February 24, 2017. The Board finds the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU effective that date.

The Veteran's lumbar DDD disability has been rated at 10% since March 21, 2008. For the period from April 2, 2014 to present, the disability is manifested by forward flexion limited to 80 degrees and a combined range of motion significantly greater than 120 degrees without ankylosis or guarding. The Board found no evidence warranting a higher rating.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for bilateral hearing loss. Tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of service connection for osteochondritis dissecans status post meniscus restoration surgery, left knee and degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer metastasis.