Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,Service connection is not granted as there is no clear evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and active duty.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 40% rating for his lumbar spine disability is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show symptoms warranting such a rating in the year prior to February 11, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss and service connection for a back disorder is remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of Gulf War service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spondylosis, a back disability, and bilateral dry eye syndrome due to outstanding private treatment records and an addendum VA opinion.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and increased disability ratings, effectively dismissing the cases.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of his military exposure history.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and a lumbar spine disorder were denied in March 2004. The Veteran submitted petitions to reopen her claims on November 21, 2012, which resulted in the grants of service connection effective from that date.

The Board has denied service connection for dizziness, low back disorder, and bilateral hearing loss. The issues of service connection for these conditions are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient factual findings regarding whether the service-connected bilateral knee disabilities aggravate the Veteran's lumbar spine disability. The Veteran needs a VA examination that complies with the clarified aggravation standard.

The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD was granted a disability rating of 40 percent on and after November 21, 2014. The appeal is denied for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent prior to that date.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's lower back disability should be remanded for a new VA examination to determine its etiology and whether it is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, asthma, right and left foot plantar fasciitis, neck condition, and back condition have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence.,New and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and asthma.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability alone renders him unable to perform daily activities of living without the assistance of another, and his statements are credited. The Board grants SMC for aid and attendance from another due to his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's right hip and lumbar back disabilities are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to his service-connected left ankle disability.,VA is required to provide an adequate explanation for the inability of the examiner to estimate motion loss in terms of degrees during periods of flare-ups.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 20 percent for left lower extremity sciatica prior to January 5, 2015. The issue of entitlement to increased ratings for the Veteran's spondylosis of the lumbosacral spine is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and thoracolumbar spine compression fracture T12, L1 due to inadequate nexus opinions provided by VA examiners. Additional medical opinions are needed to address proximate causation and aggravation of these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection for right lower leg radiculopathy is granted as secondary to his service-connected back disability. The extension of the temporary total evaluation beyond May 1, 2017 for the Veteran’s degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine with spinal stenosis status post decompressive laminectomy and medial facetectomy is denied.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims for right eye disability, bilateral hearing loss, heart disability, hepatitis C, and Barrett’s esophagitis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing private treatment records and scheduling issues for a VA examination. The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease is still under review.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and evaluation due to inadequate previous examinations, particularly regarding the Veteran's headache disability and lower back disability.