Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that it is not related to his active duty service or secondary to his service-connected chondromalacia of both knees.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 40 percent for a lumbar spine disability from January 13, 2022 was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to reopen her claims for service connection for back disability, headache disability, and acquired psychiatric disability. However, these claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities due to incorrect addresses being used in previous correspondence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck, back, left knee, and right knee disabilities, as well as gastroesophageal disorder (GERD) and gastrointestinal disorder (IBS), due to missing STRs. The Veteran is also being asked to provide mental health treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's service-connected low back strain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and multiple physical conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to September 20, 2021.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, have prevented him from participating in a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has dismissed the issues of initial ratings higher than 10 percent for right and left ankle strains prior to December 20, 2019. The issue of a higher rating for thoracolumbar strain (back disability) prior to December 20, 2019 is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee, left knee, low back, and right hip disabilities. The Veteran's current diagnoses of chondromalacia patella, chronic mechanical low back syndrome, and right hip labral tear are related to her military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to October 1, 2013. Effective October 1, 2013, the criteria for a TDIU were met.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate rationale in a previous VA examiner's opinion regarding whether the Veteran's pre-existing back condition was aggravated by service. The case is now pending for further development and an addendum opinion from a medical professional.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased evaluations have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has restored a 20% rating for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine. The reduction from 20% to 10% was not proper due to inadequate evidence in the March 2017 VA examination report.

The Board has denied service connection for a low back condition and an initial compensable disability rating for a right knee surgical scar.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for low back pain and neurological impairment due to VA surgical treatment, as well as service connection for bilateral shoulder disabilities, cervical spine disability, and left hip bursitis claimed as secondary to or proximately caused by the resultant lower back pain and neurological impairment.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied, but he is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, CFS, lumbar degenerative disc disease with spondylosis at L5-S1, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU due to inadequate medical opinions and outstanding treatment records.