Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus caused his lumbar spine arthritis, and the Board granted service connection for lumbar spine arthritis as secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus, bilateral hallux valgus, bilateral sesamoiditis, and right sesamoidectomy with scar.

The Veteran's low back disability was previously rated at 10% from September 5, 2013 to September 30, 2014. The rating was increased to 20% effective October 1, 2014 and then reduced to 10% effective September 25, 2017.,The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20% from October 1, 2014 to July 6, 2020. The rating was restored to 20% effective September 25, 2017.,The Veteran's low back disability remains rated at 10% from July 7, 2020 onwards.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his thoracolumbar disability prior to June 17, 2019 and from June 17, 2019 is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to June 17, 2019 or in excess of 20 percent since then.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a left eye disability and a low back disability, to include as secondary to service-connected left knee and leg disabilities. The Veteran's current diagnoses are nuclear cataracts in his left eye and lumbosacral strain. The VA examiners have provided conflicting opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examinations from February 2007, February 2012, and September 2015. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent prior to September 25, 2015, and at 20 percent since that date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disorders, as well as the TDIU claim due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete work history information.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's low back disorder, including a lack of service treatment records and incomplete Army Reserve medical records. The Veteran needs an examination to determine if his current low back condition is related to service.

A 10 percent rating for lumbar strain is granted as of January 30, 2007. A higher than 20 percent rating and a higher than 40 percent rating are denied.,The Veteran's lumbar spine was found to have decreased range of motion secondary to guarding as of January 30, 2007.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and bilateral knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or chronic symptoms following service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that low testosterone is not a compensable disability, the anxiety disorder does not meet criteria for a higher rating, the back disability did not warrant an increase to 100%, headaches do not meet criteria for a higher rating, bilateral hearing loss was rated appropriately, and hypertension did not warrant an increase.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back condition, diagnosed as lumbar DDD and HNP. The issue of service connection for a left wrist condition is remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent from August 25, 2015 to July 10, 2020 and denied for a higher rating.,For the period after July 10, 2020, the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent.,The Veteran's right hip osteomalacia is currently rated at 10 percent from August 25, 2015 and denied for a higher rating. The impairment of thigh is also rated at 10 percent and denied for a higher rating. Right hip flexion limitation is rated as noncompensable.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left wrist disability, right wrist disability, migraine headaches, psychiatric disorder (claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and night terrors), degenerative arthritis of the spine (claimed as an upper and lower back condition), left leg disability (claimed as restless leg syndrome), and bilateral foot disability (claimed as flatfeet).,The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back condition is at least as likely as not related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has found that new and relevant evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability. The case is remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal was remanded for additional evidence. The claims for service connection were not granted, and the ratings for chronic bronchitis and lumbar degenerative arthritis remain unchanged.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted a 20 percent rating for the period prior to July 17, 2019. From that date onwards, his disability is rated as 20 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, a low back disability, and tinea pedis. The appeals are denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability was denied. A 100% rating was granted from October 24, 2013 to March 20, 2014 for prostate cancer and residuals were not compensable since March 21, 2014. The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus remains at a noncompensable level.