Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and intervertebral disc syndrome have been granted a 40 percent disability rating, effective from December 19, 2021. The issue of total disability due to individual unemployability prior to October 10, 2017 remains pending.

The Board has dismissed all appeals regarding service connection for various conditions, including lumbar strain, knee pain syndromes, breathing condition, sleep apnea, and PTSD due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation between May 20, 2009 and April 2, 2010.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an extraschedular TDIU during the appellate period from July 27, 2005, to October 10, 2011, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are granted as service-connected. The low back disability is denied, but the right and left hip disabilities remain pending due to lack of examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination to assess the Veteran's back disability, which may be related to an in-service basketball injury.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have increased in severity, and he is being asked to provide additional evidence or examinations to determine the current severity of his disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional evidence needs to be considered and the claims for service connection are being remanded. The Veteran's hearing loss, lower back, upper extremity neuropathy, and hypertension disabilities are all under consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is not caused by VA negligence or fault, and thus denies compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's back disability is equivalent to ankylosis during flare-ups, which could affect his rating.

The Board has decided that a higher evaluation for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease with arthritis of the lumbar spine is warranted, but requires additional evidence due to inadequate previous examinations.

The Veteran's knee disabilities are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's foot disabilities are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's bilateral hallux valgus is remanded for further development.,The Veteran's hearing loss and dizziness claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbosacral spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and COPD have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left and right great toe cold injuries, left knee strain, right knee tendonitis, and lumbosacral spine disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their onset during service or causation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar strain disability with degenerative changes were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of recurrent sleep disability, psychiatric disability, scrotal disability, and lumbar spine disability are remanded due to the need for further examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of his back condition, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current diagnosis and active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combined to prevent him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment from December 24, 2014, to March 21, 2021. The Board granted a TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with left scolio, left knee strain, and right knee strain are being remanded due to the need for additional development.