Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder, finding that it is not related to his military service or bilateral pes planus.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, but denied it on the merits.,Service connection was denied for a left shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's low back disability is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in finding that VA's duty to assist was satisfied, and a new VA examination is needed to establish the etiology of the Veteran's back disability.

The Board denied an increased disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence did not show forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less, which is required for a higher rating.

The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis and degenerative joint disease are granted as service connected.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with lumbar spondylosis and degenerative joint disease is also granted as service connected.,Service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's low back disability claim due to inadequate compliance with its April 2019 remand directives, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an adequate VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's tuberculin condition, lumbosacral strain, sciatica of the left and right lower extremities, left ankle sprain, keloid boils, and acne are not service-connected as they do not meet the criteria for a disability.

Service connection is granted for degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine. Service connection is denied for bilateral knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for his lumbar spine condition and for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran is required to undergo a new VA examination, and his claim for TDIU will be deferred pending final dispositions of these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, finding that there is at least a 50% likelihood that his current condition is related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to non-compliance with previous directives. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and lumbar spine disability are being reviewed again as there is insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has granted entitlement to service connection for various conditions. The effective dates are not specified as they were not addressed in this decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding that it is not causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service and arthritis did not manifest within one year of service discharge.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was previously rated at 10 percent prior to December 19, 2019 and denied for a higher rating. For the period from December 19, 2019, his disability is denied for a higher rating.,For the period from December 19, 2019, the Veteran's cervical spine disability was previously rated at 20 percent and denied for a higher rating. His cerebral aqueduct stenosis with headaches were granted a 30 percent rating prior to December 19, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for right shoulder disability, sleep disorder, bilateral hand disability, back disability, and GERD are remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining VA treatment records, scheduling an examination, and issuing a supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities are rated at 40 percent each, while her bilateral foot disability is rated at 30 percent. The appeals for higher ratings have been denied.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete records and for additional medical opinions. The Veteran's service connection claims are not related to military service or noise exposure.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for bilateral hearing loss and a skin disorder to include hives to the entire body. The claims are now remanded for further development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a right knee disability and increased ratings for thoracolumbar spine spondylosis with intervertebral disc syndrome status post discectomy L5-S1, radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right lower extremity, and radiculopathy, femoral nerve, right lower extremity were denied as there is no current evidence of a right knee disability. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 10%.