Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and evaluations. The cases are pending further development.,Specifically, the Veteran's claim for a back disorder is being reviewed due to new evidence received.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lower back condition did not occur during active service and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a lower back condition is denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to evaluate his thigh and back disabilities as well as determine the nature and etiology of his left vestibular schwannoma/acoustic neuroma.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine degenerative joint disease and lumbar strain were denied because he failed to report for the required VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip disability, low back disability, and bilateral knee disability are denied. The claims for sinusitis and sarcoidosis have been remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded multiple issues for further development, including examinations and the provision of additional medical records. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being reviewed again to determine if her conditions are related to her military service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim has been reopened due to new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for hearing loss of the left ear, low back condition, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity are all remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to potential gaps in VA treatment records and the need for further medical examinations.

The Veteran's request to reopen his service connection claims for low back disability, left and right ankle joint pain, calcaneal spurs of the feet, and tarsal tunnel syndrome was granted. The claims for these conditions are now remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's urticaria with anaphylaxis reactions is rated at 60 percent, but no greater.,An increased rating for asthma and a lumbar spine disability are both REMANDED due to the need for further evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left leg radiculopathy, claimed as chronic low back pain, is denied. The Board found that the condition was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar strain.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease and no current symptoms related to the condition. The Veteran's lay assertions were not credible given the lack of contemporaneous medical records.,There is no current diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) in the record, and the Board denied service connection for CFS based on a lack of evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims to reopen service connection for lumbosacral spine, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities due to lack of new and material evidence. The evidence did not establish onset or a nexus with service.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease back condition, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and radicular symptoms of both legs as secondary to this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine when the Veteran last held substantially gainful employment prior to December 9, 2015 and to clarify his dates of employment. The issue of entitlement to an extraschedular TDIU is also referred to the Director, Compensation and Pension Service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for low back disability, left and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy due to inadequate examination reports and conflicting findings.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination regarding whether service-connected disabilities aggravated the Veteran's lower back condition.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 10 percent prior to August 19, 2019 and at 40 percent thereafter. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities are each rated at 20 percent.,The criteria for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine prior to August 19, 2019 have not been met. The criteria for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine from August 19, 2019 have also not been met. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities are each rated at their maximum allowable under VA regulations.