Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability and celiac disease, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a grant of specially adapted housing or special home adaptation is remanded due to the inextricability with other pending claims and the need for additional VA examinations. The case will be further developed before being adjudicated.

The Board denied a 100 percent convalescent rating following December 2008 lower back surgery, finding that the underlying cause of the surgery was not related to the service-connected condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is related to his in-service exposure to acoustic trauma. The other claims for service connection were withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, verifying service dates, and scheduling medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back disability, acquired psychiatric disability (including anxiety disorder, mood disorder, polysubstance abuse, and PTSD), and sleep disorder due to an undiagnosed illness. The reasons include inadequate medical nexus opinions and inextricably intertwined issues.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for pseudobulbar affect with continuous laughing was dismissed. The appeals for service connection for a bilateral foot disability, back disability, and bilateral knee disability are remanded.

The Veteran's low back disability is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the cause of his condition. The right knee instability, bilateral knee disabilities, left knee impairment with traumatic arthritis and degenerative arthritis (limitation of flexion), and right knee impairment with traumatic arthritis and degenerative arthritis (limitation of flexion) are also remanded. Bilateral hearing loss is remanded for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the extent and duration of the Veteran's convalescence following his thoracic spine surgery. The issue will be reconsidered after obtaining this information.

The Veteran's lumbar DDD is rated at 40 percent, and a higher rating requires ankylosis or incapacitating episodes. The evidence does not show these conditions.

The appeal for a compensable rating for Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome is dismissed, and the case is remanded for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, effective June 16, 2016. The rating for lower extremity radiculopathy remains denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic lumbar spine strain with degeneration should be remanded due to incomplete service records and need for further development.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, to include right facet arthropathy at L5-S1, degenerative disc disease, and disc herniation. The case is remanded for further review on the merits.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spondylosis and denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (unspecified depressive disorder), including as secondary to the service-connected right leg fracture residuals.

The Veteran's right hip avascular necrosis, left hip bursitis, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremity are all found to be related to his military service.,The Board has also remanded several other issues for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has granted service connection for various conditions including a left knee disability, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, IBS, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the Veteran and his representative have withdrawn their appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's periods of service and his complete lumbar disability history. The case will be returned for further review.

The VA examiner found that there were no neurologic abnormalities or findings related to the thoracolumbar spine in the December 2017 examination report. However, the examiner noted 'presence of bilateral radiculopathy' at the end of the report. The decision is remanded for a new examination to determine the severity and associated neurological impairments due to the service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability.