Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis and IVDS of the thoracolumbar spine is currently rated at 10 percent, but the appeal for an increased rating has been denied.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided are inadequate for several of the issues on appeal. The claims must be remanded to obtain additional medical opinions addressing the etiology of the Veteran's disabilities, as well as any aggravation or secondary service connection.,The Board also notes that some of the issues have not been fully developed with respect to obtaining treatment records and other evidence.

The Board dismissed all reopened service connection claims for various conditions, including back pain, hip conditions, diabetes, and hypertension. The decision also dismissed the claim for an increased rating for persistent depressive disorder.

The Veteran's thoracic spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective prior to September 23, 2020. The Board denied a higher rating for the thoracic spine disability and also denied a TDIU based on service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. His service-connected lumbar spine disability was rated at 20% from June 30, 2014 onwards, with a separate rating of 20% for LLE radiculopathy since March 6, 2018. The Veteran's combined ratings did not meet the threshold for TDIU under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU prior to January 6, 2015 are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his honorable period of active duty service and his current low back disabilities. The Board noted that the Veteran's STRs only show complaints of muscle strain during service, which did not lead to chronic residuals.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, loss of sense of smell and taste, sleep disorder, left knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and left foot disability. The Veteran is to be afforded VA examinations to address the nature, extent, and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease is rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the applicable diagnostic codes. The right knee patellar tendonitis is rated at 10 percent, while the left knee patellar tendonitis is also rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left inguinal hernia, and psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a deviated nasal septum is remanded.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran’s claimed conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and low back disability due to inadequate development. The issues are being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions, as well as their relationship to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's pinguecula is remanded for further examination to determine its likely cause.,The Veteran's left ankle disability, loss of sensation in the left and right hands, acquired psychiatric disability (anxiety and depressive disorder), left shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability are all remanded as they may be related to his service-connected back disability. The Veteran also has other issues that need examination including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and allergic rhinitis.,The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis based on limitation of flexion and extension is remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous remand directives and additional development is required. The claim will be addressed again, including whether the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine strain aggravated his other lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left foot arthritis, as well as bilateral pes planus (flat feet/pes planus), were denied. The claim for increased ratings for bilateral pes planus prior to August 17, 2020, was also denied.,For the lumbar spine disability, an increased rating beyond 40 percent was not granted due to lack of evidence of unfavorable ankylosis.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record. The Veteran’s forward flexion was found to be up to 40 degrees with pain in the December 2019 VA examination.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, effective October 30, 2019. The left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 10 percent. The TDIU claim is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate prior examinations and a need for a new opinion from an orthopedist regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disorder.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy were evaluated. The lumbar spine disability was rated at 10% since November 1, 2009, and the left lower extremity radiculopathy was rated at 20% from November 1, 2015, through March 31, 2016, and 10% thereafter. The ratings were denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a retrospective VA examination to evaluate the Veteran's current disability levels and functional loss from 1979 to present. The issues include increased ratings for low back syndrome, postoperative reconstruction of the left knee, chondromalacia of the right knee, and limitation of extension of the right knee.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is related to her active duty service and granted her claim for service connection.