Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, back disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The Board also found that the evidence was in equipoise as to whether these conditions were incurred during active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back disability, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or condition and insufficient medical evidence to support a nexus between current disabilities and military service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a low back disability, bilateral knee disability, and left hand disability due to potential errors in the examination reports and lack of information about the qualifications of the examiners.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee meniscal tear and osteoarthritis, as well as lumbar degenerative arthritis of the spine. The conditions are considered to have had their onset in service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities due to insufficient development. The VA is required to obtain an addendum opinion or schedule a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of these disabilities, considering the Veteran's reports during service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA examinations and opinions regarding his dental condition (likely periodontal disease) and back condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to address whether the Veteran's low back disability is related to his service-connected left knee disability and if so, whether it qualifies for a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow gainful employment from July 29, 2014 to March 5, 2020. The Board granted a TDIU for this period.

The Board has decided to remand the TDIU issue due to inadequate development and an incomplete review of the claims file.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine conditions, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, left and right ankle disabilities, and a heart disability. The AOJ is instructed to provide the Veteran with an opportunity to submit any SSA medical records in his possession.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for cervical spine DDD and DJD was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for higher ratings at any point during the appeal period.

Service connection is granted for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and cervical radiculopathy.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy is not service connected.

The Board has denied a higher rating for the Veteran's low back strain with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and remanded his right knee disabilities. The case is now pending further examination and evaluation.

The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (depression) is granted. The claim for service connection for a back disability is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine with stenosis, radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, left lower extremity, and radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right lower extremity are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions.,The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine with stenosis is currently rated at 10 percent prior to February 7, 2017, and at 20 percent after that date. The remand will allow for a more accurate assessment of his current disability level.

The Veteran's claims for an increased disability rating for cervical strain and service connection for low back condition (back pain) are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability on direct basis, and remanded the claims for increased ratings of right and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent effective July 1, 2009.,A separate compensable rating of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy was granted from July 1, 2009 to December 17, 2019.

The Veteran's spine disability is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition, including range of motion and functional impairment.