Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions due to a significant increase in weight and obesity, which are not disabilities for VA benefits. The claims will be reconsidered with an addendum medical opinion addressing whether the service-connected bilateral foot disability caused or aggravated the Veteran's weight gain and obesity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar DDD is a result of his in-service strain and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities due to inadequate examinations in October 2019, which did not comply with VA regulations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disorder, finding that there was insufficient evidence to support the claim and concluding that it is less likely than not that his current condition arose during or as a result of his active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee osteoarthritis and meniscus tear, left knee instability, and lumbar spine osteoarthritis before June 25, 2020 are denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of symptoms or functional impairment.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has found that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record. The VA examinations have shown forward flexion limited to 40 degrees during flare-ups.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of current hearing loss for VA purposes.,Service connection for a hip condition is denied due to lack of competent and credible evidence showing the existence of such a disability.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and a low back disability, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and incomplete paralysis of the right femoral nerve due to lack of consideration of flare-ups in previous examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, lumbar spine disability, right hand disability, and left hand disability due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, major depressive disorder, shoulder disorders, elbow disorders, wrist disorders, low back disorders, right ankle disorders, and left foot disorders. The appeal is not about service connection at all in some cases.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right shoulder disability, left ankle and ankle disabilities, left foot and right foot disabilities, low back disability, and right elbow disability. The claim for status post left salpingectomy with scars was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been granted, with a 10% rating assigned for each condition. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has decided to remand the issues of service connection for a back disability, temporary total evaluations for hospitalization and convalescence due to back surgery, and TDIU. These matters are being remanded because the VA examination used in the previous decision was not adequate for rating purposes.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied service connection for low back and prostate disabilities, finding no credible evidence of such conditions during or after service. The Veteran's left shoulder disability was also denied as there was insufficient evidence to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's initial rating for right knee strain is denied as her condition does not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating. The initial rating for low back strain through October 31, 2012, is granted at 20 percent.

The Veteran's back disability is granted as service connected, and the TDIU claim is remanded for further adjudication.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and low back disabilities due to inadequate examination reports. Additional development is required.