Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeals for an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder were dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted a 30 percent rating for the entire appeal period, and his right foot condition is denied service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's lower back disorder, including a lack of a VA examination and an unclear medical opinion. The Veteran is presumed to have incurred the injury during service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for right knee, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine arthritis, left knee arthritis, and right knee arthritis. The conditions are found to be at least as likely as not related to service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent since December 3, 2019. The Board denied a higher rating and also denied the claim for TDIU.

The petition to reopen the claim for service connection of low back pain is granted. Service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent, as there is no evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes with bed rest prescribed by a physician and treatment by a physician due to intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are currently rated based on their severity, with a 30 percent rating for the cervical spine and a 40 percent rating for the lumbar spine. The appeal is denied as the Veteran does not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, lumbar spine, left knee, right knee, left shoulder, and right shoulder disabilities due to in-service injuries. Additional development is required including obtaining VA treatment records from 1969 to 2000, conducting new examinations to determine service connection, and considering the Veteran's statements regarding combat-related injuries.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for low back pain, to include spondylolysis, has been reopened. However, further development is needed as the Board finds that a VA examination is required to determine the etiology of any current low back condition and whether it existed before his entrance into service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to a lack of compliance with VA examination requirements and the need for retrospective opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy prior to September 4, 2020.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back condition. The examiner is asked to consider the Veteran's assertions about her in-service injury and post-service treatment history.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability. The Veteran is seeking service connection for this condition, which was denied in a previous decision and appealed.

The Board has decided that the VA examination is inadequate and requires additional development, including obtaining medical records from Lorain VA and scheduling an appropriate examiner to provide a medical opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's back disability.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a low back disorder due to additional development requested by the RO.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right index finger synovitis, lower back condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder) due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claims are not currently granted as there is no clear or competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left hip disability, and right hip disability that are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's low back strain is granted a 40 percent rating, and separate ratings of 20 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) and 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve). The increased rating for left ankle traumatic arthritis remains denied.