Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder and denied increased ratings for right knee tendonitis, obstructive sleep apnea, right foot pes planus, right upper lip scar, and upper back sebaceous cyst.,A separate compensable rating was granted for painful scar post-upper back sebaceous cyst excision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and thoracolumbar spine disorders has been reopened, but the claims are still pending as they have not yet been decided on their merits.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided were not in compliance with previous remand directives and have ordered new opinions to address the Veteran's lay statements regarding his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims due to inadequate examinations and the need for updated evaluations of the Veteran's right knee, lumbosacral spine, and left shoulder disabilities. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for a left shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to obtain outstanding service treatment records. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee condition and service connection for a low back condition are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine, cervical spine, and right radial nerve paresthesia disabilities due to a lack of recent VA examinations. The Veteran is also being asked to undergo an examination to determine the severity of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to outstanding VA treatment records, SSA records, and examination reports being needed. The issues include back disability, respiratory disability (sarcoidosis), sleep disability (sleep apnea), left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative joint disease, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for neck, low back, and bilateral hip conditions have been granted. The claim for a right shoulder condition is remanded, as are the claims for left shoulder and left ankle conditions.

The Veteran's low back disability with associated radiculopathy has been granted an effective date of May 1, 2011. The issues of higher ratings for the lower extremity radiculopathies and earlier effective dates are being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension, depression, and back disability are remanded. Additionally, the overpayment claim is also remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of multiple joints, including as secondary to his service-connected multilevel degenerative disc disease with degenerative joint disease of the spine and degenerative spurring of the lower extremities (knees). The case is being returned for additional development.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the previous remand directives and thus requires another remand for additional development, including obtaining retrospective opinions on the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings, temporary total disability rating based on treatment necessitating convalescence, and TDIU prior to July 5, 2017 are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's petition to reopen service connection for a low back condition and right ankle condition was granted. The Veteran also received increased ratings for his bilateral shoulder conditions, nephrolithiasis (kidney stones), and the initial grant of service connection for sinusitis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right shoulder disability, neck disability, right leg disability (including degenerative joint disease of the right hip), and back disability due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle disability, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.,Service connection for a back disability is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's lumbar spine herniated disc was rated at 20 percent, but the Board found that his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating as they did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability was denied. The Board has remanded the case to consider a TDIU prior to August 19, 2017.

The Board has awarded service connection for tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure, but the claims for bilateral hearing loss and low back disability are remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's current back disability, right hip disability, bilateral foot disabilities, and migraines. The issues of service connection for a right hip disability, bilateral foot disabilities, and migraines are remanded for further examination.