Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

An increased rating of 40 percent for a low back disability is granted from August 2, 2018.,An increased rating of 30 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis is granted from August 2, 2018. An increased rating in excess of 30 percent is denied.,An increased rating in excess of 10 percent before August 2, 2018 is denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent since January 7, 2020. The rating was increased from a previous 10 percent.

The Board has denied a higher evaluation for the service-connected right index finger fracture and remanded the issue of service connection for a low back disorder.

The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae is currently rated at 10% and has been granted. The remaining issues have been remanded for further review.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 20 percent from December 19, 2013 to September 28, 2020. From July 27, 2011 to September 29, 2020, the rating is granted.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and sleep apnea due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's cervical spine and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis disabilities have been restored to their previous ratings of 20 percent and 40 percent, respectively, effective April 3, 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis and denied service connection for right wrist disability. The case is remanded to assign a disability rating and effective date, as well as to consider the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is rated at 50 percent, the maximum allowed.,Right and left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome are both rated at their respective maximums of 30% and 20%, respectively.,Cervical spine degenerative disc disease is rated at 10%. The Veteran's lumbar strain has been granted staged ratings, with a 10% rating from September 21, 2003 to September 16, 2019 and a 20% rating thereafter.,The Veteran’s claims for higher initial ratings are denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and secondary service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an addendum medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's back disorder clearly and unmistakably preexisted service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and left shoulder disability, finding no chronic conditions related to service. The Veteran's right shoulder ACJ disease is currently rated at 20 percent.,Service connection was not granted for the low back or left shoulder disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability was granted a 40% rating from July 15, 2004. The Board found that the condition significantly worsened during this period and warranted a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination for assessing the Veteran's lumbar spine disability. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his condition.

The Board found no evidence of a current lower back, bilateral ankle, or bilateral knee disability related to service.,The Veteran's lay statements about experiencing pain during service were not credible due to his prior denial of such symptoms.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for his service-connected lumbar spine condition was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increased rating due to functional impairment consisting of subjective complaints of pain and objective limitation of motion, without ankylosis.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of stroke, pneumothorax, lumbar scoliosis with degenerative disc disease/degenerative joint disease, and radiculopathy are all denied.,Service connection is not granted for the Veteran's claimed conditions as they do not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's back disability is related to his service-connected panic disorder. The heart murmur and sleep apnea claims are still pending.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression, panic disorder), finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise that these conditions are related to service.