Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for TDIU and nonservice-connected pension benefits prior to February 25, 2022 due to outstanding treatment records and a need to determine if an extraschedular TDIU is warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative changes at L5-S1 and intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine as secondary to his service-connected abdominal muscle strain.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including arthritis of the hands, knees, and ankles; a back disorder; bilateral knee disorders; erectile dysfunction; breathing and respiratory issues; and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, hypertension, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's claims for herpes virus, Bell's palsy, and vertigo were remanded.,There is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence or aggravation for the claimed conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records from the Veteran's service and post-service treatment, including those related to his back injury during service. The decision is pending until these records are obtained.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease with spondylosis of the lumbar spine with compression fracture of the thoracic spine, T11, has been rated at 40 percent since September 4, 2013. The appeal is denied as his condition does not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and headache disorder. The Veteran is currently rated 10 percent for chronic left epididymitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding that there is no evidence of chronic disease during or within one year after service and insufficient continuity of symptomatology to establish service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and rating increases on multiple conditions is being remanded due to issues with obtaining medical records from certain providers.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as they have been granted. The back disability appeal is remanded for further review.

The Board denied a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis prior to January 31, 2014, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various back and neck disabilities due to insufficient opinions from the previous VA examiner. The Veteran is asked to provide private treatment records, and a new opinion will be obtained regarding whether his disabilities are related to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee and low back disabilities, but remanded the issue of sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for back and neck disabilities due to a lack of information regarding her daily training exercises during boot camp. The VA is instructed to obtain her Social Security Administration records, including medical records used in their decision, and schedule her for a VA examination to determine if her current back and/or neck disability had its onset in service or is otherwise etiologically related to her period of active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication due to issues regarding increased ratings for the service-connected idiopathic scoliosis, lumbar spine.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for tuberculosis, residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), and low back disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is granted effective August 24, 2020. The issue of entitlement to a higher rating prior to that date and thereafter is remanded.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis were not found to warrant a higher rating prior to April 2, 2020.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 10% prior to June 10, 2019 and denied for a higher rating. From June 10, 2019, the Veteran's disability was rated at 20%, also denied.