Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's anxiety and left shoulder disability are granted, but the lumbar spine disability requires further examination to determine its severity. The service connection for these conditions is determined based on direct evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his in-service injury. The claim was reopened due to new evidence provided by Dr. O.Z.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete service records and insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's foot and back conditions. The issues of service connection for bilateral flat feet and low back disorder are being reviewed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the appellant's service-connected lumbosacral strain from October 30, 2008.

The Board has denied an earlier effective date for the 30 percent rating for left total knee replacement. The Veteran's claims for service connection of back disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, right hip disorder, and left hip disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected due to exposure to loud noise during active duty, with continuous symptoms since separation.,Service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted based on chronic disease presumptive under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b) and continuous symptoms since service.

The Veteran's appeal is partially granted, with a disability rating of 70 percent for unspecified depressive disorder and remanded for further evaluation on the issue of a higher disability rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and therefore his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess his functional limitations caused by his service-connected disabilities, and their impact on his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and remanded the evaluation of bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's sinusitis is granted a 30% rating, but no higher, for the period prior to May 9, 2018. The Board also remanded several other claims due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for various conditions, including psoriasis, lumbar spine disability, left knee and right knee disabilities, sinusitis, and acquired psychiatric disorders. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection due to lack of in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine sprain with degenerative arthritis and left knee patellar tendonitis with degenerative arthritis due to incomplete development of medical opinions addressing potential ameliorative effects of medications.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that there is no evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to lack of recent VA examinations and the Veteran's assertion that his conditions have worsened.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to lack of evidence showing she needed such assistance.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and lumbar spine disabilities due to inadequate examination opinions regarding pre-service conditions and aggravation. The Veteran is also asked to provide any private medical records related to his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been restored to their previous ratings of 40 percent and 20 percent, respectively, effective March 1, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied. The rating for left shoulder bursitis and bicep tendonitis status post-surgery, lumbosacral strain prior to April 4, 2019, and radiculopathy of the lower extremities were all denied or had their effective dates extended.