Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current disabilities and his service-connected bilateral knee disability.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and lower extremity radiculopathies.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 10 percent, with no higher rating granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left hip bursitis with limited abduction, adduction, internal rotation, and external rotation; left hip bursitis with limited flexion; left hip bursitis with limited extension; and low back disability. The right hip disorder claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was previously rated at 10 percent prior to October 17, 2019 and is now denied for a rating in excess of that level.,Since October 17, 2019, the Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated at 20 percent and remains denied.

The Board has granted a TDIU from January 31, 2011 until May 8, 2017 due to the combined effect of service-connected disabilities preventing the Veteran from securing or following gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, status post lumbar surgery and depression to include as secondary to his back disability due to inadequate opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher disability rating for his lumbar spine disability and service connection for his neck disability, due to inadequate examinations in prior decisions.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating, service connection for a right knee disability, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for TMJ, facial scar, headaches as secondary to TMJ, and low back disability on a direct basis.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine with DDD secondary to right shoulder disability and sleep apnea due to new evidence being submitted after the initial SSOC was issued.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy/sciatica, left lower extremity are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining private medical records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 70% rating, effective April 22, 2020. The Veteran’s painful left thumb scar remains at a 10% rating. Service connection for the back disability and substance use disorder secondary to PTSD are granted. The Board remanded service connection claims for left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, and musculoskeletal pain.

The Board has granted service connection for multiple joint arthritis of the left shoulder, lumbar spine, and knees. The claim for bilateral nuclear sclerotic cataract is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability prevents him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment due to its severity. Effective August 30, 2017, the Veteran is granted special monthly compensation at the housebound rate.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for further examination. The Veteran's back disability, including scoliosis, is being reviewed again.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and that the current disability is not related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to incomplete development of evidence, including failure to address relevant DBQs and VA treatment records. The RO must obtain updated VA treatment records, conduct new examinations per Correia v. McDonald (2016) and Sharp v. Shulkin (2017), issue an adequate SSOC, and readjudicate the claims.

The Board has denied service connection for back problems and left knee degenerative joint disease (claimed as knee problem) due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service. The case is being remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar DDD and COPD, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that it did not manifest during service and is unrelated to his right knee disability. The evidence showed minimal degenerative changes in the Veteran's back over time.