Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings in excess of 10 percent for her back, right shoulder, and left shoulder conditions are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain as the result of scoliosis with degenerative joint disease and intervertebral disc disease is granted a 40 percent rating prior to September 30, 2019. A rating in excess of 20 percent since September 30, 2019 is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his low back disorder due to a lack of timely filing of a substantive appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to lumbar spine disability. The Veteran is required to provide additional information or evidence, including records from any recent neurosurgery consultation.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative osteoarthritis of the right knee, left knee, and lumbar spine. The Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The claim of higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. The claims of service connection for back disability, neck disability, vertigo and dizziness, and acquired psychiatric disorder are all denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a back condition due to an inaccurate medical examination report. The case is sent back for further evaluation and correction.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence. The issues of secondary service connection for tinnitus, service connection for sinusitis with rhinitis, type II diabetes mellitus, irritable bowel syndrome, low back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder are all remanded for further development.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for neck and back disabilities, but denied them on the merits. The Veteran's current statements attributing his disabilities to in-service motor vehicle accidents are not consistent with the service records.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a low back disorder, and a right shoulder disorder. The claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical and lumbar conditions have been granted. The claim for a headache condition is remanded.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim for service connection of a low back disability. The Board also found that there is sufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the Veteran's current low back disability and his in-service experiences, leading to a grant of service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at the highest schedular rating, and his symptoms are considered in the current rating criteria. The Board finds no need for extraschedular consideration.,Service connection has been granted for a low back disability due to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and any in-service injury or event.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, bilateral shin splints (stress fractures), a bilateral knee disability, and a lumbar spine disability. The Board found that there was no increase in severity of preexisting pes planus during service and that the Veteran did not have current disabilities of his shins, low back or knees.

The Veteran's PTSD and lumbar spine disability are granted, but the issues of a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, TDIU, service connection for heart disability, and prostate disability are remanded.

The Board has restored the Veteran's ratings for lumbar strain and migraine headaches, finding that the reductions were improper due to lack of improvement in function.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar strain and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a link between his current condition and in-service back issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back disability and nose fracture residuals due to additional development being needed, including obtaining new medical opinions that account for recent evidence of a motorcycle accident during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities did not begin during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,For his head injury, the Board found no evidence of a preexisting condition noted at entry into service. The Veteran was unable to establish aggravation of this condition during service.