Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The appeals for service connection of various conditions, including left-eye disorder, esophagitis, gastritis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder were dismissed. The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for his shoulder, wrist, fifth finger, and lumbar spine disorders are also dismissed.

The Veteran's lumbar spine, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, right foot plantar fasciitis, right knee limitation of flexion and extension, right knee lateral instability, and left knee lateral instability have been granted ratings. The Veteran also received a TDIU.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen for service connection for seizures, TBI, sleep disorder, and lumbar spine strain. Service connection is granted for TBI and seizures, but denied for lumbar spine strain.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of right ear hearing loss, bilateral knee disability, and back disability due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's eczema is now rated at 30% from December 2, 2019.,For the period from March 31, 2011 to December 1, 2019, her eczema was not rated higher than 0%

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for cervical spine DDD and lumbar spine DDD is being remanded due to inadequate VA examination reports regarding the severity of his conditions during flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and left ankle condition, including as secondary to his right ankle condition due to outstanding medical records and incomplete opinions in previous examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected prostatitis, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, and low back disability are all remanded for further examination and evaluation. Service connection for abdominal pain is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility for specially adapted housing assistance or a TDIU due to their combined rating of 50 percent, which is less than the required 70 percent. The Board has remanded the issues for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Veteran's cervical spine DJD and lumbar strain have been granted initial compensable ratings. The radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, sciatic nerve; right lower extremity, femoral nerve; and left lower extremity, sciatic nerve have also been granted initial compensable ratings.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected lumbar strain was granted, with an effective date of November 13, 2007. The current rating is 40 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine DDD/DJD and left knee osteoarthritis with meniscal tear and chondromalacia, s/p meniscectomy are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. New evaluations are needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that there was no evidence in the service treatment records or immediate post-military records to support a chronic disability developing during service. The current disabilities are considered unrelated to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability and remanded it. The issues of service connection for neck, bilateral hip disabilities, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as major depressive disorder) are also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's applications to reopen his claims for service connection for back and right hip disabilities, finding no new and material evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for TBI, back disability, and GERD have been denied as there is no evidence of a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

Service connection is granted for chest pain and denied for heart condition (Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and arrhythmia). The case is REMANDED for additional examinations to address the Veteran's back disability and cold injury residuals.

The Veteran's appeal for TMJ service connection was dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal.,Service connection granted for tinnitus, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's initial 40 percent rating for lumbar spine disability is granted, and the combined rating prior to July 22, 2019, and thereafter, is 70 percent and 90 percent respectively.