Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for traumatic brain injury, right shoulder disability, back disability, and sinusitis due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The Board has reopened the previously denied service connection claim for hypertension and remanded it. The claims for hepatitis B and C, a back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are all pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity. The reasons provided were that there was no evidence of chronic back pain within one year after discharge from active duty, and the VA examiner opined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder is not related to his service-connected cervical spine stenosis or any other in-service injury.,The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for direct service connection as there was no evidence of a chronic back condition within one year after discharge from active duty, and the VA examiner opined that the current lumbar spine disorder is not related to his service-connected cervical spine stenosis or any other in-service injury.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease, finding that the evidence did not support such an increase.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for further examination regarding the cause of the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating and TDIU due to inadequate previous VA examination reports. The Veteran is seeking increased ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral degenerative arthritis, which was previously rated as 10%, 20%, and 40% prior to January 14, 2020, from January 14, 2020 to December 21, 2020, respectively. The Veteran is also seeking a TDIU prior to January 14, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of PTSD and left forearm disability have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's initial rating for a lumbar spine disability was denied as her condition did not meet the criteria for higher ratings.,The Veteran's hypertension was also denied, with no specific reason provided in the decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to new evidence being associated with the record.

The Board has denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and remanded the remaining issues due to lack of current diagnosis. The Veteran's claims for low back, hip, leg, hypertension, and psychiatric disorders are being remanded for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, left hip disability, left knee disability, left big toe disability, right big toe disability, right hip disability, and right shoulder disability.,There is no current diagnosis or evidence of a chronic condition for any of the claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in its decision regarding TDIU and DEA benefits, specifically for the period prior to April 4, 2011. The Veteran's service-connected conditions are expected to be reassessed on remand.

The Board has dismissed all issues related to the Veteran's death, as they do not survive their deaths.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and consideration of lay statements regarding his knee symptoms.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to August 3, 2022, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for the Veteran's lumbar spine condition. The case is remanded for further development regarding service connection claims for left and right foot conditions and a skin condition manifested by calluses on both feet.

The Veteran's back disability is granted a 40 percent rating. The right lower extremity radiculopathy is denied any increased ratings prior to December 1, 2020 and after that date. The left lower extremity radiculopathy is also denied any increased ratings from July 11, 2016 to November 30, 2020 and after that date.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, but the appeal is remanded for further development on other issues including hypertension, chronic fatigue syndrome, thyroid disability, low back disability, and degenerative arthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, lumbar spine disability, and cervical spine disability due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to obtain private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further development, including VA examinations.