Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims due to inadequate development, including failing to schedule VA examinations for the Veteran. The examinations were not completed as requested.

The Veteran's lumbar strain is rated at 40 percent from July 15, 2019. The RO denied increased ratings for his sciatic nerve radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities prior to June 9, 2021.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, lumbar spine, right shoulder, and bilateral knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions and lack of VA treatment records. The Veteran contends his conditions are related to service, specifically a parachute landing fall in December 1996.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical arthritis and thoracolumbar arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, right knee, and hip disabilities did not meet or approximate the criteria for higher disability ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability and whether a preexisting condition was aggravated during service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted as service-connected. The left hip disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, right hip disability, and left ankle disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a back disability was reopened and granted effective August 21, 2018.,Service connection for GAD secondary to the Veteran's back disability is granted effective March 29, 2018. The issue of service connection for a headache disability remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected knee and back disabilities did not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's service periods and inactive duty for training (FTTD). The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral ankle disorder, left knee disorder, left elbow disorder, and low back disorder are now pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of lumbar spine, left knee, and left hip disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has found that additional VA examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, lower extremity radiculopathy, and hypertension. The issues have been remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted service connection. For the period prior to January 26, 2016, a 70 percent rating for PTSD with depressive disorder is granted.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations of his cervical and thoracolumbar spine conditions from October 31, 2017, were denied as the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's post-traumatic degenerative disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent, but no higher. The rating for right and left lower extremity sciatica and radiculopathy remains at 20 percent.,Right and left lower extremity sciatica are each rated at 20 percent since June 25, 2004, and July 29, 2011 respectively. Right and left lower extremity radiculopathy were granted a 40 percent rating from October 29, 2021.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the low back and left knee disorder, finding no link between these conditions and any in-service events.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate reasoning in a previous VA examination and because of the need to obtain SSA records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a back injury and residuals of a left leg injury, finding that there is no evidence of chronic conditions during or immediately after service. The Board also found that any current symptoms are not related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for a low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and atopic dermatitis on the posterior trunk.,Service connection was granted for atopic dermatitis on the posterior trunk.