Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the evidence does not support a causal relationship between the Veteran's active duty service or any service-connected disabilities and his current low back condition.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted an increased rating of 20 percent from July 9, 2018 to March 23, 2022. The claim for a higher rating than 20 percent is denied throughout the appeal period and separate ratings for neurologic abnormalities are also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issues of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD; a back disability; and a rating in excess of 10 percent for a right patellar thickness tear.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeals for ratings of his sciatic and femoral nerve conditions, as well as his lumbar spine disability. The issues have been remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the service connection claims due to incomplete records and conflicting medical opinions. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations did not adequately address the Veteran's claims for service connection, and thus remanded the cases for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims for initial ratings and TDIU due to inadequate discussion of additional limitations during flare-ups in the October 2018 VA examination reports. The Veteran's low back and cervical spine disabilities are being remanded for new medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has found that the RO did not substantially comply with the May 2021 remand directives and has therefore ordered further development for the issues of increased ratings for back condition, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's back disorder is related to his service.

The Veteran's daughter, P., is recognized as a helpless child due to her disabilities and inability to support herself prior to the age of 18. The claim was reopened based on new evidence showing she became permanently incapable of self-support before reaching the age of 18.

The Board has remanded the claims for a lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to incomplete examinations. Additional evaluations are needed to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was previously rated at 30 percent prior to April 8, 2013. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increased rating for this period due to lack of unfavorable ankylosis.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was dismissed due to the death of the claimant during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lower back condition, right knee condition, and left knee condition due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions. The Veteran is not granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (unspecified depressive disorder) as there is no verified stressor for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for an extension of convalescence period and a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease status post microdiscectomy and laminectomy of L3-L4 is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection of various hip, shoulder, knee, and spine disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and continuity of symptoms during or following service.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability and TDIU prior to October 18, 2021 have been withdrawn. The Board has dismissed these issues as the appeal is no longer valid.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee and lumbar spine disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected back condition renders him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation on an extraschedular basis, resulting in the grant of TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence in a previous VA examination, specifically regarding functional loss during flare-ups. The Veteran is required to undergo a new VA examination to assess his current disability level and any additional impairment caused by flare-ups.