Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected lumbar spine, cervical spine, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and right upper extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right knee disability, left knee disability (secondary to right knee), and spine/low back disability (secondary to right knee) due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss in the right ear was denied. The Board found no current disability of hearing loss in the right ear for VA purposes at any time since separation from service in March 1991. Service connection for back disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder were remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracolumbar and cervical spine disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an updated VA examination of the Veteran's spine disability, as previous attempts to schedule him have been unsuccessful.

The Board has denied a higher initial rating for the appellant's service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and arthritis, finding that her symptoms do not meet or approximate unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine. The left shoulder disability was remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability, manifested by pain resulting in functional impairment, is service-connected as it resulted from injuries sustained during military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected lumbar spine condition was denied, and the claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current L4-5 and L5-S1 lumbar spine osteoarthritis was incurred in service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his L5-S1 lumbar spondylolisthesis, degenerative disc disease, and intervertebral disc syndrome, left knee patellar tendonitis and patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellar tendonitis and patellofemoral syndrome have been withdrawn. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, including degenerative disc disease and arthritis. The decision is based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his right knee total knee replacement and service connection for a low back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his lumbar spine condition, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and service connection for a bilateral hip condition. A new examination is required to assess the severity of these conditions and their relationship to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his service-connected conditions.,The Board has also found that there is a need for an addendum opinion on the severity of the Veteran’s acquired psychiatric disability, including any pertinent symptoms.

The Veteran's service connection claim for lumbar spine disability is remanded. The Board finds that staged ratings are appropriate for the bilateral ankle strain, with a 10% rating prior to February 14, 2017 and a 20% rating as of February 14, 2017.

The Board has restored a 40 percent disability rating for lumbosacral strain, effective August 1, 2018. The reduction from 40 to 10 percent was found to be improper due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease (DJD), degenerative disc disease (DDD), and stenosis. The claim was reopened due to new evidence received since the previous denial in November 2013.

The Board has remanded the claims for a back disability, left hip strain, and right knee strain as secondary to service-connected disabilities due to incomplete reasoning in previous VA medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, initial ratings for dysthymic disorder and low back strain, and TDIU due to new evidence and/or worsening symptoms. Specifically, a medical opinion is needed regarding whether any right knee disorder or pain with functional impairment is related to active service and/or proximately due to his service-connected low back strain.