Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining retrospective medical opinions from VA examiners.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to insufficient evidence showing he was unable to secure and maintain gainful employment despite his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings and earlier effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's request for an extension of the temporary total rating for hydrocele in his testicles until December 18, 2013 is granted. The claim to reopen a previously denied low back disability service connection is also granted and remanded for further action.

The Board has restored the 20 percent rating for a right ankle disability. The Veteran's appeal of a higher rating for his service-connected low back disability prior to January 24, 2012 is remanded due to inadequate examination report.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of bilateral knee and bilateral foot disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is characterized by marked limited motion, warranting a 20 percent rating. The Board has granted this rating.,For the entire appeal period, the Veteran's left knee disabilities are rated at 10 percent for anterior/posterior cruciate ligament tear and 30 percent for global laxity and rotary instability.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a lumbar spine condition due to additional development needs, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and to obtain missing VA treatment records. The issues of service connection for GERD, bilateral hearing loss, and a low back disability are all being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability has been rated at 20 percent disabling throughout the appeal period. The Board found that his condition does not meet the requirements for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5243 (for intervertebral disc syndrome) or any other applicable diagnostic codes, as he did not have forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less; or favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine. The Veteran's condition is characterized by restricted movement.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, arthritis and IVDS is rated at a 40 percent effective February 7, 2012. Service connection for joint pain is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, a higher rating for service-connected back disability, and TDIU due to ongoing medical inquiry.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic kidney disease, a disability of the back near the kidney, residuals of a concussion/head injury, and left hand disability are all denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,Service connection is not granted as there is no evidence that any of these conditions were present during or caused by service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's low back disability, and service connection for a urethra disorder is granted.

The Board has remanded the claim for a new VA medical opinion to clarify whether the appellant's low back condition clearly and unmistakably preexisted service and was not aggravated by service beyond the natural progress of the disease.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition and left leg radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during active duty and have persisted since.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for her lumbar spine disability prior to August 28, 2020 and beginning on August 28, 2020. The reasons are that the VA examination provided by the Board was inadequate as it did not consider all of the Veteran's statements regarding functional loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disorders have not precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and therefore the claim for TDIU is denied.