Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has dismissed all claims for service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for her lumbar spine disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are denied. The claim for a TDIU is also denied.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete records from VA facilities in Florida, and TDIU consideration is dependent on service connection.

The Veteran's cervical spine DDD disability prior to August 6, 2018, was granted an increased rating of 30 percent. The disability manifested with limited range of motion (flexion to 15 degrees or less), but not in unfavorable ankylosis.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than bipolar disorder, as the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of such a condition.,The Board denied service connection for a deviated septum, finding that it was pre-existing and not aggravated by service.,The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, as there is no evidence of its onset during service or within one year post-service discharge.,The Board denied service connection for right arm tumors, noting the lack of evidence linking them to service.,The Board denied service connection for left arm tumors, also finding insufficient evidence linking them to service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for back disorder due to new and material evidence. The claims for neck disorder, left leg disorder (including the knee), and headache disorder are all remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete records and insufficient information regarding employment history.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus was not incurred during service and is denied.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating.,The Veteran's hypertension does not warrant a compensable rating.,The Veteran's chronic low back strain with degenerative changes does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent.,The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is remanded for further review.,The Veteran's right knee disability prior to April 16, 2019, and after June 1, 2020, remains on appeal.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is now rated at 40 percent effective from December 20, 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for neck and back disorders due to new evidence submitted since previous decisions.

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

The Veteran withdrew all remaining issues on appeal, resulting in the dismissal of the cases.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection as they have already been granted in a January 2020 rating decision.

The Veteran's mechanical low back pain and bilateral leg radiculopathy have been remanded for further development.,Service connection for a left hip disorder, TDIU, increased ratings for mechanical low back pain, and increased ratings for bilateral leg radiculopathy prior to November 10, 2021 are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including an opinion on whether the Veteran's pre-existing idiopathic scoliosis worsened during service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for Meniere's disease, otitis media, and a peripheral vestibular disorder. The claims for thoracolumbar spine condition, cervical spine condition, and bilateral upper extremity nerve impairment were granted with reopening of the latter two.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence does not support ankylosis or intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), and thus denying any higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to his back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine arthritis and for TDIU prior to February 14, 2018 due to inadequate examination findings. A new VA examination is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lower back condition is etiologically related to his active service and grants entitlement to service connection.