Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

Your appeal has been dismissed because the VA granted service connection for your neck disorder, which is now a full grant of the benefit sought.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings for his lumbar spine strain, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and Achilles tendonitis of the left ankle due to incomplete records. The Veteran is requested to provide any private medical records related to these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, but granted it for a liver disability and an enlarged spleen.,Service connection was also remanded for right knee and left knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to new evidence of worsening conditions, as well as his claim for TDIU. The issues include right ankle, right knee, right hip disabilities, and a left leg below the knee amputation.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracic and lumbar spine disability, including diagnosed lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease (DDD), and radiculopathy. The issues regarding increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities have been remanded.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate was denied because he does not have a single service-connected disability rated as 100 percent disabling or a TDIU based on a single disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the thoracolumbar spine, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or neurological impairment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining retrospective opinions regarding the severity of his service-connected thoracolumbar spine strain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disorder and erectile dysfunction due to a lack of adequate medical opinions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which are currently being reviewed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for lumbar strain and degenerative disc disease of the thoracic spine with radiculopathy, finding that his current back condition arose in service or is related to an in-service injury. The decision also reopened the previously denied claim.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition was not due to his in-service injury and did not show an increase beyond its natural progression.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his in-service injury and does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to arthritis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability due to conflicting medical opinions that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed. The Board also remanded several issues, including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, right upper extremity neurologic impairment (left hand numbness), left upper extremity neurologic impairment (left hand numbness), and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for low back disability and left lower extremity sciatic neuritis have been dismissed due to the appellant's request for withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's IVDS is currently rated at 20 percent prior to August 2, 2021 and granted a rating of 40 percent from that date. The right-side lumbar radiculopathy is also granted a 20 percent rating.

The Board has granted an effective date of October 27, 2010 for the award of SMC based on aid and attendance. The Veteran's need for regular assistance due to his service-connected disabilities was established from that date.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claims of increased ratings for left elbow degenerative arthritis and thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis prior to March 15, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disability, cervical spine disability, CAD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to the Veteran's inability to attend VA examinations due to cancer treatment.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, which may be related to his service. The claim will be reconsidered.