Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable prior to March 11, 2019 and 20 percent from that date. The claim for hypertension has been remanded due to the need for a VA examination.,Service connection for rosacea was granted with a 10 percent rating effective February 8, 2018. The Veteran is seeking an increased rating.

The Veteran's additional disability residuals from his lumbar spine surgery are considered a direct service connection and the Board has granted compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back, right knee, and left knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during his military service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar strain was denied as a matter of law due to his failure to report for the scheduled VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service and rejecting the Veteran's claim based on lack of nexus.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and opinion regarding service connection for fibromyalgia, back disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than anxiety.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and missing records, particularly regarding auto accidents that occurred during service. A new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's low back condition is related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and a need for further development, including obtaining service treatment records from the Veteran's first period of active duty and private medical records related to his cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity has been rated at 20 percent, but is not entitled to a higher rating.,The Veteran's bilateral flatfeet with residuals of heel spurs prior to July 25, 2019 have been rated at 10 percent, and are not entitled to a higher rating from that date. From July 25, 2019, the Veteran's condition has been rated at 30 percent.,The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 10 percent, but is not entitled to a higher rating.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus requires treatment with oral hyperglycemic agent and a restricted diet, and is not entitled to a higher rating.,Service connection for gastrointestinal condition, thyroid condition, and acquired psychiatric condition (PTSD and anxiety disorder) are remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 20 percent prior to August 31, 2012 and is now rated at 40 percent beginning on that date. The case has been remanded for further adjudication.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted with effective dates of October 12, 2016. The initial ratings assigned are 20% for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy.,Effective dates earlier than October 12, 2016 were denied for the grant of service connection for sacralization L5, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and migraines.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further verification of his periods of active duty, inactive duty training (ACDUTRA), and in-service diagnoses.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's spine disability. The Veteran must be provided with a new VA examination to determine if his current spinal condition is related to service.

The Veteran's right foot plantar fasciitis with heel spur was granted a temporary increased rating of 20 percent from December 18, 2017 to November 18, 2018. The condition is now denied for higher ratings. Service connection for secondary neurologic disability and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's low back disorder is related to service. The VA must obtain an addendum opinion from a different examiner that addresses these issues.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, finding that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 10 percent. The disability was productive of painful motion and interference with prolonged standing and walking but without significant range of motion loss or IVDS.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension, low back disability, PTSD, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee disability, right knee disability, and low back scar. The effective date for the grant of service connection for a left knee scar was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an in-service injury as identified by the March 2018 VA examiner. The Veteran's back disability is presumed related to his active duty service, and another medical opinion is needed to determine if it had its onset during service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for lumbar discogenic degeneration and denied the claim itself. The Board found that there was no evidence of a back condition during service, did not manifest within one year post-service, and is not related to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied an increased rating higher than 40 percent before September 23, 2002.