Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection. The Board finds the Veteran's claims for other disabilities are not supported by competent and credible evidence, necessitating further development.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability, muscle and joint pain (undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness), and skin disability due to incomplete records and further development is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeals due to failure to schedule VA examinations as part of the May 2020 remand. The issues on appeal include higher initial ratings for low back disability, right knee disability, and superficial peroneal nerve paresthesia, as well as TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board granted a TDIU based on his physical and cognitive limitations.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to the grant of full benefits in prior decisions. The heart condition, back condition, and hemorrhoids are rated as per VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities, as well as his claim for a TDIU prior to June 3, 2020. The VA is directed to obtain SSA records and afford the Veteran an opportunity to clarify his employment status during the period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lumbar spine, right lower extremity, bilateral hip, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities due to insufficient examination findings and opinions. The Veteran's conditions are being reviewed again to determine if they are related to his service-connected right thigh gunshot wound.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain and degenerative disc disease is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's service connection claim for L2-L5 lumbar spondylosis and degenerative arthritis of the spine was denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The Veteran's insomnia disorder claim was also denied, with a 30% rating being assigned.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right knee, and left knee conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right hand nerve damage, non-musculoskeletal bilateral leg conditions, right heel/foot condition, neck condition, and back condition due to inadequate medical opinions. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board denied the claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for lumbar strain with spondylosis sacral/lumbar region, intervertebral disc displacement and sacroiliitis, finding that the evidence did not more closely approximate the criteria for a higher than 50 percent rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine at any point during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's spine and skin conditions. The cases are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, degenerative lumbar spondylosis, rheumatoid arthritis of the bilateral lower extremities (rhabdomyosarcoma is not a condition, but radiculopathy is attributed to it), diabetes mellitus type II, psoriasis, and hypertensive heart disease have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from February 9, 2016.,The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, degenerative lumbar spondylosis, rheumatoid arthritis of the bilateral lower extremities (rhabdomyosarcoma is not a condition, but radiculopathy is attributed to it), diabetes mellitus type II, psoriasis, and hypertensive heart disease have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to February 9, 2016.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was rated at 10% prior to July 29, 2020 and now at 20%. The left foot disability and the headaches and psychiatric disabilities were remanded for further development.

The appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is dismissed.,New and material evidence has been received and the petition to reopen a claim of service connection for lumbar spine disability is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to November 6, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for right knee instability, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted.,The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and right knee disorder were granted. The claim for left knee disorder due to the lumbar spine disorder was denied.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but not total social and occupational impairment from August 29, 2013 to March 11, 2019. From March 12, 2019 onwards, the Veteran's PTSD met criteria for a 70 percent rating.,The Veteran has had radiculopathy of the right lower extremity since August 18, 2014 and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity since August 18, 2014. Both conditions have been rated at 20 percent.