Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service.

Effective dates of March 1, 2013, have been granted for the awards of service connection for impairment of left muscle groups II, III, and IV.,No effective date earlier than May 26, 2017, has been granted for the awards of service connection for right shoulder osteoarthritis, lumbar degenerative disc disease, or bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve dysfunction.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of sufficient medical evidence to support the claim for service connection for back condition. The Veteran's active duty injury and current diagnosis are recognized, but further examination is needed to determine if there is a link between the in-service injury and the current condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, low back, right knee, left knee, and hypertension disabilities due to incomplete development of records and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's blood clot of the right leg, liver disability, and hip disabilities have been granted service connection. The Veteran is also receiving a non-compensable rating for his lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and sciatic nerve radiculopathy were granted, with the exception of a remand for further evaluation. The Veteran was also granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for eye disability, lumbar spine disability, left elbow disability, and bilateral ankle disability. The reasons included lack of evidence linking these disabilities to service or post-service treatment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the addition of new evidence. The issues include lumbar spine IVDS with degenerative arthritis, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.

The Veteran's initial claim for higher ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral strain, migraine headaches, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and radiculopathy of sciatic nerve was denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 20 percent for lumbosacral strain prior to January 27, 2020 and at 40 percent thereafter.,The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his service-connected migraine headaches was granted with an initial 50 percent rating from January 3, 2013. The Veteran is currently rated at 50 percent for this condition.

The Veteran's disabilities are rated at 100 percent combined, but the Board finds that he does not meet the threshold requirement for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his multiple service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral spine, left and right lower extremity radiculopathies are being remanded due to the need for further development.,No effective date is assigned as the preponderance of the evidence does not support an earlier diagnosis.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disability is remanded due to the upgrade of the character of discharge from under other than honorable conditions to general, under honorable conditions by the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records (AFBCMR).

The Board has remanded several claims due to the need for additional consideration of new VA treatment records and readjudication in an SSOC.

The Veteran's claims for increased PTSD rating, TDIU, and service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete examination findings. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for DDD with arthritis and spondylosis of the thoracic and lumbar spine, and left wrist strain are pending.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to new evidence indicating increased severity of the Veteran's psychiatric condition, as well as potential issues with service connection for back disability, left leg condition, and right leg condition.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine due to insufficient information regarding functional impairment during flare-ups or after repeated use. The Veteran should be scheduled for an updated examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's low back disorder, specifically during flare-ups. The Veteran and his representative argue that his condition is more severe than currently rated.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete efforts to obtain private medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for consideration of the recently amended criteria for rating disabilities of the musculoskeletal system, to include IVDS. The initial rating for residuals of fractures and toes in the left foot remains denied.