Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has ordered additional development to locate and secure any pertinent federal treatment records, including those from the Veteran's employment with the Internal Revenue Service. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion on whether the low back disability is etiologically related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, a back disability (including scoliosis), and a nerve disability (including sciatica) due to incomplete development of the record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back condition and right hip condition due to an error in not considering the applicability of C.F.R. § 3.317.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain additional medical opinions regarding service connection for various conditions. The Veteran's lower back condition is being reviewed for secondary service connection due to his bilateral knee disability, while his pes planus and skin condition are being evaluated in relation to herbicide exposure.

The Board has ordered a remand for further development and an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's chronic low back disorder.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a neck condition, to include as secondary to service-connected low back disability. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his neck condition and the Board requires an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address whether it is at least as likely as not that his neck condition is caused by or aggravated by his service-connected low back disability.

The Board has determined that the appellant had active Federal service from March 14, 1960 to September 13, 1960 for purposes of basic entitlement to VA benefits. The claims for service connection and TDIU are being remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of left and right hand carpel tunnel or a back disability. The claims for these conditions are denied.

The Veteran's evaluation for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was granted at a 20 percent rating from August 1, 2015 to November 1, 2019. The appeal for an increased rating beyond this period has been withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to an administrative error in the previous decision.

The Board has granted service connection for low back, left knee (status post knee replacement), right knee (status post knee replacement), left ankle, and right ankle disabilities. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for low back pain and denied a compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's DDD of the thoracolumbar spine with IVDS, lumbar stenosis, and lumbar spondylolisthesis is rated at 40 percent since March 27, 2017. The Board has remanded for further development regarding a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection, finding that November 30, 2011 is the correct date for the grant of service connection for arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The cases are remanded for further development on issues related to lumbar spine, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral knees disability, and bilateral shoulders.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right arm disorder and low back disorder with radiculopathy, but has remanded her claims for service connection for vestibular disorder (vertigo), right hip disorder, left knee disorder, and right ankle disorder.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of a back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and respiratory disability (COPD, emphysema, ground glass nodules) due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has granted the Veteran's TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate from December 14, 2018 to March 31, 2019. The effective date for these benefits is not specified in this decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted. The claim of bilateral hearing loss is also granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hip disorder, diagnosed as lumbar radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, is granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spondylosis.