Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, as well as to obtain additional medical records. The Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities remain pending.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and denied a compensable rating for folliculitis. The low back disability is found to be due to active-duty service, while the folliculitis does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's back disorder was granted a 40 percent rating from April 21, 2021.,Separate ratings of 10 and 20 percent were granted for sciatic nerve radiculopathy affecting the left and right lower extremities respectively.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of the retrospective opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability from September 30, 2008 to October 23, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder and a lumbar spine disorder, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine and levoscoliosis, cervicothoracic spine pain, and thoracic spine pain due to insufficient examination reports. The Veteran's claim will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for her cervical spine disability prior to April 11, 2014 was denied. The claim for TDIU was also denied as the Veteran is currently rated at 100 percent combined and does not meet the criteria for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating and TDIU prior to May 28, 2015 have been dismissed as the accredited representative withdrew these appeals in their entirety.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a low back disorder and granted it, finding that there is sufficient evidence to establish a current diagnosis and a link between the condition and military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between his current condition and his military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his lumbar spine and radiculopathy conditions due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for degenerative disc disease, peripheral neuropathy of the right leg, left arm, and right arm was dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic low back strain is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that her symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they have never resulted in specific functional limitations required for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for back, cervical spine, and left knee disabilities. The case is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's left ankle arthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to worsening symptoms and inadequate examination reports. The Veteran is seeking higher disability ratings for his lumbosacral strain with left scoliosis, left knee strain, and right knee strain.

The Board denied service connection for a back injury of the lumbar spine due to lack of evidence linking it to service.,The Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for residuals of bilateral chalazion, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity, and carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity are remanded as there is insufficient medical opinion regarding their etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that there was no nexus between his current degenerative arthritis and his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hip condition and low back disability due to secondary service-connected right and left knee disabilities. The cases need further development with addendum opinions from qualified examiners.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and new evidence from a September 2021 VA examination is pending review.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for a lower back condition has been granted. The issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for a right hip disability, and service connection for left hip and lower back conditions have been remanded.