Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as he is capable of performing the physical and mental acts required by employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the issue of an initial rating higher than 20 percent for degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine between September 7, 2005 and January 25, 2007 due to insufficient reasoning in a previous opinion.

The Board denied service connection for left great toe and left shoulder disabilities, as well as numbness of the bilateral lower extremities. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a direct link to his military service.,Service connection was also denied for numbness of the right and left lower extremities secondary to a back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete VA opinions. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical opinions addressing his claimed lumbar spine, knee, ankle, and gastrointestinal disorders.

The Board has remanded the claims for sleep apnea, back condition, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy to obtain additional medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions. The issues are inextricably intertwined due to the potential impact on the back claim.

The Veteran's back condition, left knee instability, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome were all granted increased ratings. The left great toe condition was granted a higher rating from November 20, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a lumbar spine disability, right shoulder disability, and right knee disability due to insufficient evidence addressing the continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis with IVDS are rated at 40 percent since August 1, 2014. Ratings for right lower extremity radiculopathy prior to April 16, 2020, and left lower extremity radiculopathy prior to August 11, 2016, have also been granted.

The appeal seeking entitlement to service connection for a back disability is dismissed.,The appeal seeking entitlement to service connection for cirrhosis of the liver is dismissed.,The appeal seeking entitlement to service connection for a heart disability is dismissed.,The appeal seeking entitlement to service connection for high blood pressure is dismissed.,The appeal seeking entitlement to service connection for a left hip disability is dismissed.,The appeal seeking entitlement to service connection for a right hip disability is dismissed.,The appeal seeking entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is dismissed.,The appeal seeking entitlement to service connection for tinnitus is dismissed.

The Veteran's back disability is remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of her service-connected lower back disability, including range of motion testing. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the rating assigned for her back disability.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for lumbar strain and TDIU prior to December 5, 2019 are being remanded due to the inadequacy of previous examinations. A new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of his lumbar strain.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease status post spinal fusion, degenerative arthritis of the spine, and intervertebral disc syndrome due to continuous symptoms since service separation.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues related to the ratings of his service-connected conditions, including degenerative lumbosacral disc disease with sacroiliac joint dysfunction, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, left knee chondromalacia patella, right knee chondromalacia patella, left ankle avulsion fracture, and scalp laceration scar.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ankle disorders, as well as cervical spine disorder, have been denied. The Board found no current disability associated with the ankles or cervical spine, either by diagnosis or functional impairment. There are also no objective indications of chronic undiagnosed disability associated with these conditions that manifested during service or to a degree of 10 percent or more following service.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathies have each been granted a rating of 10 percent, effective from December 17, 2009. The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD has also been granted a 10 percent rating, effective from the same date.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the cervical spine, lumbar spine, and upper extremity radiculopathy claims due to the need for retrospective medical opinions. The remaining issues are remanded for readjudication.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's low back disability and his service. The claim will be reconsidered after obtaining a new opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and a migraine headache disability, both related to the Veteran's service. The decision is based on evidence showing that these conditions are directly related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the VA examination reports are inadequate and remands both issues for further development, including obtaining an adequate opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lower back condition and rectal sphincter insufficiency with involuntary bowel movements/urgency (fecal incontinence condition).