Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder, finding that it is related to an April 1992 back injury.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete service personnel records, which are needed to substantiate his claim of active service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for her lumbosacral strain is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted as service connected. The right knee and lumbar spine issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and therefore the claim for service connection for cause of death is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a new VA examination and re-adjudication of the claim, including obtaining updated employment information or Social Security Administration disability benefits information.

The Board has remanded the claim for an extraschedular TDIU for the period January 31, 2006 through January 1, 2011 due to a lack of a private vocational expert opinion. The Veteran and his attorney are advised to submit this opinion.

The Board dismissed the appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to November 19, 2015, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter, for lumbar back strain. The claim for a higher rating for right knee degenerative joint disease (DJD) is remanded.

The Veteran's right hip strain and degenerative spondylosis of the lumbar spine are granted as service connected due to injuries sustained during active duty for training.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a bilateral eye disability and lumbar degenerative disc disease due to insufficient examination reports, and requests additional evidence and examinations.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for tinnitus are all remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for additional examinations.

The Board denied service connection for low back, left shoulder, and left knee disorders due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder and sleep apnea have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board has decided to remand this case for a higher rating due to his contentions of worsening symptoms.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and a bilateral foot condition, finding that there is no current diagnosis of these conditions and that any pre-existing conditions did not worsen during service.

The Veteran's lumbar strain and plantar fasciitis were granted effective dates prior to August 27, 2014.,An initial evaluation of 30 percent for the period prior to August 27, 2014, was granted for service-connected plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his service-connected lumbar spine DJD, DDD, and spinal stenosis was denied as the evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine or thoracolumbar spine. The case is remanded to determine if there were any incapacitating episodes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations, which need to be supplemented with additional information.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran’s claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to assertions of worsening symptoms, including flare-ups.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's low back condition is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected flat foot deformity.