Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to inadequate examination findings. A new VA examination must be conducted and these defects remedied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and low back disorder are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder is also being remanded.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted as service connected.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Board has found that the Veteran's left and right lower extremity sciatica are not related to his service-connected low back disability, and thus these issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's disability rating for her back disability was reduced from 40 percent to 20 percent, effective July 31, 2020. The reduction was not proper and the rating is restored.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to reconsider the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine condition, right ankle condition, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability has been reopened, and the case is being remanded to determine if his current condition is related to his military service. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricable link with the low back disability claim.

The Veteran's claim for tinnitus was granted. The appeal for a higher rating for PTSD was withdrawn by the Veteran. The right knee and back disability claims are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for low back, left hip, right hip, left knee, and right knee disorders, as well as bilateral foot conditions (hallux valgus and hammertoes), all of which were determined to be not related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the SMC claim due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's employment status and additional VA and private treatment records are needed. The appeal is now in remand status.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against a link between his current condition and active service.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is granted a 20 percent rating, effective April 30, 2008. The left knee disability remains at a 10 percent rating with no higher ratings allowed. The gastroenteritis also receives a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted a 30% rating effective from January 28, 2011. The issues of initial compensable evaluations for patellofemoral syndrome and chondromalacia of the left and right knees are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on several service-connected disabilities is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and hypertension, including secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's current conditions were not shown as chronic in service or within a presumptive period, and continuity of symptomatology was not established.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disorder, as it is unclear if the etiological opinion provided was based on an accurate factual premise and lacks sufficient analysis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or housebound status, thus his claim for special monthly compensation is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a lower back disorder and denied service connection for tinnitus. The lower back disorder is related to an in-service injury, while the tinnitus is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, scoliosis, and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities are all granted as service-connected. The initial rating for complex regional pain syndrome is increased to 40 percent.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability resulted in a temporary total evaluation from August 11, 2016 to March 1, 2017.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted based on the Veteran's reported noise exposure during service.

The Board has withdrawn the claims of service connection for urticaria and angioedema. The issues of service connection for lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder/anxiety/PTSD), TBI (head injury), right ankle disorder, erectile dysfunction (ED), chronic pain syndrome, hypertension, digestive disorder, and sleep disorder have been remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence.