Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted.,Service connection is granted for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, but not for a right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back DJD and anxiety disorder, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The claim is being remanded for further development and consideration of the TDIU issue.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities due to incomplete development of evidence, including failure to schedule VA examinations. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after additional examination and development.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, and headaches. The decision is based on the Veteran's consistent complaints of pain since separation from service and supportive medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases of TBI, lumbar spine disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder for further development to obtain medical records and schedule examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right hip, bilateral knee, and lumbar spine conditions due to a lack of in-person examinations. The Veteran is requested to provide evidence via telephone or telemedicine.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability prior to June 27, 2013 is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the severity of his condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's back disability and its relation to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his back disability and service connection for radiculopathy of both lower extremities due to lack of updated treatment records, insufficient examination results, and incomplete information from the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions. The issues of TDIU are also being remanded as they may be impacted by these service connection issues.

The Veteran's low back condition and right shoulder condition are being remanded for additional development of medical evidence.,The Veteran's skin condition (claimed as genital herpes) is also being remanded for additional development of medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar spine disability and for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran needs further VA examinations and records.

The Veteran's appeals for cervical spine, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disorders have been dismissed. Service connection has been granted for GERD, hiatal hernia, gastritis, lumbar spine disorder, and bilateral shoulder disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service motor vehicle accidents. The right hip disability claim is remanded due to insufficient clarification of the etiology.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that his disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating as there is no evidence of forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less, ankylosis of the entire spine, or incapacitating episodes.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's lumbar spine and right knee disabilities, as his symptoms have worsened since his last VA examination.

The Veteran's back disability, including spondylitic bulging disc disease of the lumbar spine and lumbago, is granted as service connected. The rating for bilateral knee chondromalacia patella remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is denied as he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination and there is no evidence showing the disability has manifested as forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine of 30 degrees or less, or of ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine or entire spine.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to his active-duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal is not about service connection and thus, no rating or effective date is assigned. The issues of service connection for various disabilities are remanded.