Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to non-compliance with previous directives. The back disability claim is related to a fall during service, but there are no records from Galveston, Texas. The headache condition claim is linked to seizure disorder and must be deferred until epilepsy is decided. TDIU is also deferred as it's inextricably intertwined with the other claims.

The Board has denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed musculoskeletal and neurological conditions, finding that they are not proximately due to or aggravated by her service-connected lumbosacral spine strain.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and right leg radiculopathy are granted as service connected. The conditions are found to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of his records.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected low back pain status post-fusion with degenerative disk disease (DDD) was denied as the condition has not resulted in favorable ankylosis of the entire spine, unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar lumbar spine, or incapacitating episodes lasting at least 4 weeks during the past 12 months.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence submitted after the July 5, 2018 statement of the case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip condition, finding no current diagnosis and insufficient evidence linking it to military service.,The Board also remanded the issues of left knee and lower back conditions secondary to service-connected right knee degenerative arthritis status post total knee arthroplasty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for chronic fatigue syndrome and a back disorder are remanded due to inadequate examination in prior proceedings.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left hip and low back disabilities, as secondary to a service-connected left ankle disability. The Veteran's current hip and back conditions are being evaluated further with an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has granted service connection for trauma and stressor-related disorder, but remanded other claims due to incomplete information regarding duty dates and the need for additional examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, and back condition. The Board found that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee, back, and headache disabilities due to a lack of VA examinations prior to the July 2012 rating decision. The Veteran is required to undergo another VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and left knee strain have been granted initial ratings, with radiculopathy of the right lower extremity also being granted. The Veteran is not entitled to higher ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus is due to service, and his lumbosacral strain first manifested during active service. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been reopened with the submission of new evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar strain and for TDIU due to the need for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting an examination.

The case is being remanded for issuance of an addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's range of motion in the thoracolumbar spine.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical discopathy, finding that it is not secondarily related to his service-connected low back condition or to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left ankle strain, hallux valgus of the left foot, seborrheic dermatitis, and thoracolumbar spondylosis, have increased in severity since his last VA examinations. The Board has ordered new VA examinations to assess these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that it is related to an original in-service injury and not secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.