Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during Vietnam service. The scar of the lumbar spine remains denied, and hypothyroidism and hepatitis C are remanded for further review.,An initial compensable rating for scarring head to toe is denied, and an acquired psychiatric disorder claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's increased rating for arthritis of the lumbar spine is denied.,Rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy prior to May 16, 2017 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter is denied.,Compensable rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) prior to December 12, 2016 and in excess of 30 percent thereafter is denied.,Compensable rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) prior to October 27, 2020 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter is denied.,The Veteran's entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his thoracolumbar spine disorder and right lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD with sciatic neuropathy was granted a single 60 percent initial rating prior to February 27, 2018. From that date onwards, separate 40 percent ratings were granted for right and left lower extremity sciatica.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his low back disability, service connection for right and left hip disabilities due to other service-connected disabilities, and effective date issues. The claims are being remanded for further development including obtaining medical opinions on the etiology of the hip disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for another VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's back disability.

The Board denied service connection for a right ear disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left ankle disorder, and right ankle disorder. Service connection was granted for acid reflux disease (GERD).,Service connection for a low back disorder remains denied.

The Veteran's hypertension and back disability are found to be related to his military service, with the rating for hypertension being increased to 30 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability and granted a rating of 40 percent for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as of August 1, 2011. The decision did not address left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, shoulder disorder, and OSA due to inadequate examinations in February 2021. The Veteran contends that his current conditions are related to his military service, including repetitive trauma from carrying heavy loads and corpses.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as the evidence is insufficient to determine his employment history and educational background.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability has been rated at 40 percent since February 26, 2019. The Board denied a higher rating for the period prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to a procedural error in adjudicating the issue of service connection for a back disability. The Veteran's claim is now pending again with the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disability and bilateral knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing their etiology.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a low back condition and a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction due to outstanding private treatment records not being obtained.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine condition and bilateral radiculopathy, which are believed to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for a new examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities, including addressing functional impairment during flare-ups and providing an estimate of the approximate date of onset of his knee instability.

The Board has remanded the claims for neck, bilateral shoulder, and back disabilities due to inadequate VA opinions. The Veteran's sleep apnea claim remains denied.