Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with its prior remand instructions and has therefore ordered a new VA opinion to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back disability, including consideration of wear and tear from military training.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for a low back condition due to conflicting medical opinions and need for additional development.

The Veteran's left knee disability has rendered him unable to secure and follow gainful employment since August 20, 2021. His other service-connected conditions do not prevent him from working.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to incomplete compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee condition. The Board has also remanded for further development of the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, including obtaining retrospective medical opinions.

The Veteran's neck disability is rated at 20% since July 1, 2013.,An increased rating for lumbar strain was granted from February 7, 2019 onward.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted.,New evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disability, left knee disability, and other disabilities. Service connection will be considered on the merits.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the threshold schedular criteria for a TDIU prior to February 10, 2019. The Board found that his service-connected low back disability with radiculopathy made it difficult for him to maintain employment and be productive.

The Board has remanded the cases due to non-compliance with previous remand directives and the need for additional development, including verification of service in the Reserves and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has vacated its February 2022 decision, finding that the Veteran's claims for service connection were not properly considered due to missing evidence. The claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability is dismissed as withdrawn by the Veteran. Service connection for a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder) remains denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and pelvic disability due to insufficient evidence in their file. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records, including those from his VA treatment providers, and he must be afforded examinations by VA doctors.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. For the period prior to November 2, 2020, his lower back disability was rated at 20 percent; since then, it has been rated at 40 percent. His right knee condition remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed.,A TDIU was granted effective December 1, 2008.

The Veteran's initial ratings for thoracolumbar spine disability prior to May 14, 2018 and since that date are denied. The appeal for TDIU has been dismissed due to the award of a total schedular rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to inadequate examination findings. The VA is asked to provide an addendum opinion regarding the presence of left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic, obturator, and femoral nerves prior to the March 2022 VA examination.

The Board has remanded two issues: the first regarding left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and the second regarding a lumbar disability. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development to ensure proper consideration of all relevant evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives regarding the issue of lumbar spine arthritis. Further examination is required to address the Veteran's reports of continuity of symptomatology and provide a clear and unmistakable opinion on whether any back disability preexisted service, was aggravated during service, or is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD) status post T11/T12 compression fractures and right lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need to reconcile contradictory findings from a March 2018 VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic back condition as secondary to the service-connected disability of residuals of shrapnel wounds of the back and leg, finding that there was no link between the Veteran's service connected shrapnel residuals and his currently diagnosed back disorder.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no nexus between his current condition and service. The evidence did not support a finding of chronicity or aggravation during service.