Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine was denied. Separate initial ratings were granted for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity prior to April 27, 2016, and for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity prior to April 11, 2014.

The Veteran's radiculopathy sciatic nerve of the left lower extremity is currently rated at 20 percent, which corresponds to moderate incomplete paralysis. The Board has determined that this rating is appropriate based on the evidence provided.

The Veteran's lumbar spine DJD and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been rated at 10 percent since January 13, 2012. The June 2016 examination found the condition to be more nearly approximating moderately severe incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerve.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy has been granted a higher initial disability rating of 40 percent from June 24, 2016.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and lumbar spine disability are granted as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disability. The earlier effective date claim for the bilateral knees is dismissed due to lack of legal entitlement.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient rationale in the previous opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back and bilateral knee disorders. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for prostate cancer, low back disability, and neck disability have been granted. However, the specific nature of these connections is not detailed in the provided text.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back and left knee conditions, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of lumbosacral strain and bilateral hearing loss due to the claimant's death.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for a lower back condition, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not causally related to service and does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to arthritis developing within one year of separation.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination report, and requested an updated medical opinion that includes information on flare-ups and joint testing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for back disorder and bilateral elbow disorders due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinion. Additional development is needed, including obtaining medical records and providing a new addendum opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient retrospective opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's back condition following his spinal surgeries in May and February 2014.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of functional loss during flare-ups.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's cervical strain and associated residuals, including spondylosis and degenerative disc disease (cervical spine condition), are granted as service-connected.,Service connection is granted for sinusitis.,Service connection is granted for allergies and associated residuals, including chronic conjunctivitis (allergy condition).,Headaches are found to be service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding her TDIU claim. The Board finds the October 2014 VA opinion inadequate for adjudication purposes and too remote in time.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection and for service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity. The claim for an earlier effective date was denied because there was no CUE in the January 1993 rating decision that initially denied service connection, while the claim for service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity was denied as the Veteran did not have this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting opinions regarding his lumbar and thoracic spine disabilities.,Specifically, the examiner needs clarification on whether the pre-existing arthritis of the spine was related to the lumbar or thoracic spine issues.