Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for stroke, right ear hearing loss, and back condition due to errors in the decision-making process. Additional examinations are required to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disability, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity are all found to be more disabling than currently (or initially) evaluated. The Board finds that a more contemporaneous VA examination is needed to determine the current nature and severity of these service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that her current condition is at least as likely as not related to her active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities and lumbar and sacral disc degeneration and arthritis, have resulted in loss of use of his lower extremities. As a result, he is eligible for specially adapted housing assistance. However, his claim for special home adaptation grant has been denied as moot.

The Board has decided that there is a pre-decisional duty to assist error and remands the issue of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine (also claimed as degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine) secondary to service-connected left knee disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and erectile dysfunction, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service or presumed exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, coronary artery disease, back condition, and irritable bowel syndrome due to inadequate medical opinions regarding aggravation or causation.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine disability as secondary to service-connected bilateral knee arthritis. Service connection for pes planus is remanded due to a lack of an adequate opinion regarding potential aggravation.

The Veteran's disability ratings for back and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were improperly reduced. The effective dates of the reductions are not specified, but they occurred after February 8, 2016, and July 5, 2017 respectively.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition did not have its onset in service and was not related to his military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and left knee secondary to right knee, due to the appellant's death.

The Board has granted service connection for a deviated nasal septum and denied service connection for left knee, left ankle, neck, low back disabilities, and malaria.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and its relationship to his service-connected conditions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his sleep apnea as secondary to GERD, IVDS, radiculopathy, and PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bronchitis, lumbar spine disorder, and right hip disorder due to outstanding VA treatment records and further examinations.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for low back and right ankle disabilities due to potential inextricability with other pending claims.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with depressed and anxious mood is granted a 50 percent rating from January 15, 2014 to October 1, 2015. A 20 percent rating for the right ankle disability is granted. For the left shoulder disability, a 20 percent rating prior to March 1, 2018 and no higher than 20 percent from March 1, 2018 onwards is granted. The lumbar spine disability receives a 20 percent rating prior to November 25, 2019 and no higher than 20 percent from that date onwards. A 10 percent rating for the cervical spine disability is denied.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's low back strain with spondylolysis, finding that the medical evidence did not support a higher rating based on forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less.

The Board has remanded the case due to the appellant's request for additional evidence review by the RO, and the need to issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant records from her SSI claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic lumbar strain, finding no evidence of a current disability related to his military service or any service-connected condition. The Board also found that there is no probative evidence to support a secondary service connection claim.