Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, including a lack of review of the service treatment records and private medical opinions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including those for service connection and rating determinations. The additional VA treatment records need to be considered in the readjudication process.

The Veteran contends connection for a lumbar spine condition and tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure, but the Board finds that there is not enough evidence to support these claims.,The Veteran's skin disorder of actinic keratosis is likely unrelated to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and unclear medical opinions. The Veteran is requested to provide dates of her Reserve service periods, as well as any outstanding private treatment records relevant to her claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his attorney. The appeal for TDIU is being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his service-connected degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine status post-operative diskectomy and fusion, L5-S1 was denied. The rating assigned prior to December 12, 2018, is 10 percent, and after that date is 20 percent.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal as it is no longer relevant.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability and determine if he has bladder dysfunction as a result. The current rating for this condition is 20 percent, but the Veteran wants a higher rating.

The Veteran's lumbar strain, left and right knee disabilities, hypertension, and onychomycosis of the bilateral toenails are all rated at their current levels. The appeal is denied as there is no evidence to warrant a higher rating for any condition.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted. Service connection for a right knee disorder and left knee disorder, both secondary to service-connected bilateral hammertoe, is denied. Service connection for a low back disorder, also secondary to service-connected bilateral hammertoe, is denied.

The claim of service connection for thoracolumbar spine strain is reopened, and the case is remanded to determine if it is related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's attempt to reopen his claim for service connection of a low back disorder, finding no new and material evidence has been submitted.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in February 2017 are inadequate and remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions to determine if his low back disability and sleep apnea are related to service or secondary to other conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to deficiencies in the May 2009 and April 2015 examination reports, specifically regarding pain levels, range of motion, and whether there is ankylosis. The Veteran will need addendum opinions addressing these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic back condition and remanded the right knee condition issue due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to his incarceration, and also because of the inextricability with other service-connected disabilities. The specific issues are related to rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, initial ratings for radiculopathy of both lower extremities, and TDIU from July 1, 2007, to May 10, 2010.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for depression, lumbar spine disorder, left ankle disorder, numbness of the feet, bilateral knee disorders, and bilateral hip disorders have been reopened. The appeals are granted to these extents only.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability (intervertebral disk disease with degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine) has worsened, and a new VA examination is required to assess its current severity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine and left knee disabilities have been granted. The appeal regarding an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right knee disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back condition and bilateral knee condition due to inadequate opinions in the July 2013 VA examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection based on her duties during service, including wearing heavy equipment and participating in physical activities.