Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected DJD of the lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, low back disability, and other joint disabilities due to new evidence received since previous decisions. The Veteran's service connection claim for chronic fatigue syndrome is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations and opinions to determine if her current back, vision, chest pain, allergies, breathing disorder, headaches, memory loss, and vertigo are related to service or any other conditions. The issues include a back disorder, vision disorders, chronic chest pain, allergies, asthma, headaches, memory loss, and vertigo.

The Board has remanded the claims of left shoulder, right shoulder, back and heart disabilities due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is granted as secondary to his service-connected back disability. The right lower extremity neurological condition and ulcerative colitis with reflux and anemia, aphthous sigmoid ulcers, and nodular mucosa are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and obstructive sleep apnea have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to unclear dates of active duty and Reserve service, and a need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities were denied as the effective dates cannot be earlier than May 4, 2012.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, including tendonitis, as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hip degenerative arthritis is granted as secondary to his service-connected osteoarthritis of the lumbosacral spine.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to lack of a justiciable case or controversy as there are no pending appeals in the legacy system regarding service connection for back disability, TDIU, and increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities.

The claim of service connection for a chronic back injury is remanded due to the need for further examination and consideration.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and missing STRs. The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and right leg radiculopathy/neuropathy are being reviewed again with additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination and medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current low back disability, which is currently diagnosed as lumbar spondylosis and lumbar spondylolisthesis.

The Veteran's low back condition is granted as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee condition.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD, and dementia, is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence to reopen claims of service connection for back and cervical spine disabilities. The Veteran's representative requested reconsideration in August 2018, but the AOJ denied his claims again in September 2018. The issue of service connection for cervical spine disability is now being considered on a de novo basis.

The Board dismissed the appeals of higher initial ratings for lumbosacral strain and intermittent supraventricular tachycardia with left ventricular hypertrophy, as the Veteran only wanted to pursue an appeal of the hypertension rating. The Board granted a 10 percent initial rating for hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the left knee has been dismissed as it was included within her request to be placed in the AMA system, which encompasses all aspects of her service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's MDD is granted as secondary to his service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities. His cervical strain was rated at 20% effective February 26, 2019, with additional radiculopathy ratings for the right upper extremity and left lower extremity.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was granted. The current rating of 40% is maintained since January 31, 2013.