Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine DDD, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy has been granted. Service connection is also granted for arthritis. The claims for service connection for a right foot condition and a left foot condition are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as they do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete records and need for clarification on whether he experienced current disabilities during his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back and neck disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA regulations.

The Veteran's thoracic vertebrate wedge deformities with degenerative disc disease are currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has remanded to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and a right ankle disability, finding that the Veteran's disabilities had their onset in service.

The Board dismissed the claim of service connection for a back disability as it was established in a March 2022 rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for interstitial lung disease due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents, such as Agent Orange. The claims for back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for low back and neck disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is rated at a 40 percent disability rating from November 10, 2016 to November 17, 2021.

Service connection for headaches and a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine disability prior to May 3, 2007 are denied. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea and right knee disability due to insufficient evidence. The claim for low back disability remains denied as new and material evidence was not received.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine, cervical spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities are being remanded for additional examinations to assess their current severity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient information regarding his exposure to hazardous substances and materials during service. The Veteran is also required to undergo examinations for his cervical spine, lumbar spine injury, left knee, and right knee conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to noise exposure during ACDUTRA, and service connection for this condition is granted. The remaining issues are remanded due to the need for additional evidence or examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for lumbar spine condition, finding that there is new and material evidence to reopen the claim. The Board also found that the current lumbar spine condition is related to a service-connected cold weather injury to both feet, which aggravated the Veteran's pre-existing lumbar spine condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical findings regarding estimated range of motion loss due to pain and during flare-ups, including the Veteran's repeated reports of lumbar spine flare-ups limiting range of motion.

This decision dismisses the appeal for a compensable rating for hearing loss. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent since December 1, 2011. The right shoulder strain was initially rated at 30 percent prior to November 25, 2019, and then denied from that date forward. Right knee strain has been rated at 10 percent overall. Limited flexion of the right knee is rated as degenerative arthritis, while instability is separately rated.,reasoning for summary sentence: The Veteran's conditions were evaluated based on their current manifestations without considering prior ratings or any changes in disability status.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background, resulting in the denial of TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee conditions and a psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions.,The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent for her right wrist condition is being remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded as part of the rating question, due to inadequate VA examination opinions.,,