Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle, right ankle, and back disabilities are not service-connected as they were not caused or aggravated by his active military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for a lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis and remanded his claims for increased rating for dry eye syndrome and service connection for a lumbar spine disorder.

The Board has dismissed all issues related to the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to the death of the appellant during the appeal process.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for increased ratings for her lumbosacral strain (back disability). The case is therefore being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to re-enter the workforce and work in any substantially gainful capacity, considering his level of education, prior work experience, and training.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including a new medical opinion on whether ankylosis is present.

The Veteran's left leg venous insufficiency and lumbar spine disability are found to be related to his service-connected left femur fracture. The issues of tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and skin conditions have been remanded for further examination.

An increased disability rating of 20 percent for the service-connected back disability is granted from September 1, 2015 to April 15, 2021.,An increased disability rating higher than 20 percent for the service-connected back disability is denied from April 16, 2021 forward.,A separate 10 percent disability rating for left knee instability is granted for the entire rating period.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for a higher rating for right knee injury residuals, granted a separate rating for symptomatic right knee meniscectomy, and denied a higher rating for dorsolumbar myositis. The claim for TDIU was also denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings of left eye occlusion and multilevel degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, status post laminectomy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that there was no nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records from private healthcare providers and government agencies. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being reviewed.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and rating issues have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to noncompliance with a previous remand directive. The main issue is whether there is at least a 50% probability that the Veteran's low back disorder, including DDD, had onset in service or is otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's diverticulosis with GERD is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating authorized for this condition. The Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted as there are no symptoms of severe impairment of health.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent based on forward flexion greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees and the combined range of motion not greater than 120 degrees. The Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted as there are no symptoms of severe impairment of health.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot pes planus, right foot pes planus, and a back disability to include as secondary to pes planus due to his inability to travel for VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew all remaining issues contained in the Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Veteran's low back, right ankle, left ankle, migraine headaches, left wrist, and left foot disabilities are granted as service-connected.,Service connection for amenorrhea and dysplasia is remanded due to conflicting evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability. The claim will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee disability, back disability, and sinus disability due to outstanding VA treatment records and inadequate medical opinions.