Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining medical examinations and opinions to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities. The TDIU rating issue is also being referred to the Director, Compensation Service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to uncertainty regarding her dates of service and need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations have been denied. The Veteran is granted a 10% evaluation for right and left shin splints, but her claims are remanded for further development regarding other conditions.

The Veteran's appeal includes requests for increased ratings and service connection for back and right leg disabilities secondary to her service-connected right hip disability. The Board has determined that these issues require additional development.,Further investigation is needed to determine the nature of any relationship between the Veteran's current back and right leg conditions and her service-connected right hip disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), low back condition, and cervical spine condition due to incomplete development of his service connection claims.

The Veteran's low back disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, nocturnal clenching/bruxism and TMJ syndrome, and PTSD are all rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations. The Board has granted increased ratings for some conditions but denied others.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) as well as a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of these conditions during or related to his active military service.,The Board also found that the Veteran's current CTS and low back disabilities were not caused by or aggravated by any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbar spine and right lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The Veteran's low back disability is now rated at 50 percent, effective from August 9, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including her left knee condition and right wrist condition, prevented her from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment. The Board has granted entitlement to an extraschedular total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for the entire period of appeal.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and increased rating claims. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbar DDD is denied, and the case remains in controversy. The TDIU claim is also denied. A separate disability rating for ED as secondary to service-connected lumbar DDD is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's right knee and lumbar spine conditions. The first issue is a request for a compensable rating for his scar, right knee. The second issue is seeking an increased rating for post operative residuals of the right knee torn medial meniscus with degenerative arthritis prior to June 1, 2018 (except the temporary total period). The third issue is seeking an increased rating for post operative residuals of the right knee torn medial meniscus with degenerative arthritis as of June 1, 2018. Lastly, the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spinal stenosis with severe DDD at L4/5 and L5/S1 is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his back condition prior to January 16, 2020 is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral knee instability and patellofemoral syndrome is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection claims were dismissed or remanded as requested. The claim of service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was granted, while the claims for hemorrhoids and chronic left ankle sprain are also granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration of all evidence submitted since the last supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that it is related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since February 7, 2020. He is also in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a grant of TDIU.