Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The appeal for service connection of depression has been dismissed. The appeals for service connection of headaches, low back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate examinations and incomplete records. The issues include rating adjustments for low back disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to deficiencies in a previous VA examination. The Veteran is required to undergo another VA examination for his lumbar spine disability, which may also provide information relevant to the radiculopathy issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete compliance with previous remand instructions and insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran is required to undergo additional examinations by orthopedic spine surgeons and a VA psychiatrist.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation from August 25, 2010 until his death on December 16, 2015.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and right hand carpal tunnel syndrome, finding no evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection was also denied for rheumatoid arthritis of the right hand (claimed as right arm disability), with the Board concluding that there is insufficient evidence to support a nexus between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim of service connection for a low back disability before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's lumbar strain and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted initial ratings of 10 percent prior to June 2, 2015, and from November 9, 2021. The Veteran is not entitled to higher ratings for these conditions or a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a back disability due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran will be provided with examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower leg pain, and neuropathy of the left upper extremity due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran's service connection claims are being remanded for additional development including obtaining VA treatment records, providing a new examination, and medical opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected DMII and lumbosacral strain, with arthritis and osteoporosis. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct a new VA examination.

The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for hearing loss is denied due to lack of evidence showing a current disability during the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have caused him to be unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment since April 1, 2007. His TDIU claim is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed. The Board has remanded several issues including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, heart condition, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral eye condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for entitlement to service connection for right elbow, right shoulder, upper back, and lower back disabilities due to inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent, and his radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities are each rated at 20 percent. The TDIU claim was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with VA's duty to assist, specifically regarding the nature and etiology of all diagnosed low back disabilities.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for lumbosacral strain and cervical strain with IVDS have been denied. The back disability is rated at 10 percent, while the neck disability was initially rated at 0 percent (noncompensable) from September 22, 2015 to September 27, 2019, and at 20 percent thereafter.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic low back condition during or within one year after service. The Board also found that any current degenerative disc disease is not related to service.