Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and requests for additional information from the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional examinations to address functional loss due to flare-ups and repetitive use over time, as the previous VA examinations were inadequate in this regard.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are etiologically related to his military service. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible testimony regarding in-service noise exposure and subsequent symptoms.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for an increased rating for a cervical spine disability due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal. The remaining issues have been remanded, including service connection and TDIU.

Your claim for service connection for a low back disability has been granted, but the appeal is dismissed because it was already resolved in favor of you.

A 20 percent rating for degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine prior to March 23, 2017 is granted.,A 70 percent rating for dysthymic disorder prior to November 18, 2021 is granted.

The Board denied service connection for low back, right leg, left leg, and left arm disorders due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection was also denied for right and left foot disorders because there is no medical evidence showing they were incurred in service.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for disability of the thoracolumbar spine and sleep apnea due to additional development being necessary.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected low back disability, including on an extraschedular basis, is being remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a low back condition, neck condition, left ankle condition, and insomnia due to conflicting medical opinions and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for a higher initial and increased rating for his lumbar spine disorder, as well as the claim for TDIU from September 23, 2005 to April 2, 2018, are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The Board will schedule the Veteran for a new VA examination to address these issues.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity affecting the sciatic nerve is granted with a rating of 20 percent effective January 4, 2020. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity affecting the sciatic nerve is also granted with a rating of 20 percent effective January 4, 2020.

The Veteran's costochondritis is rated as noncompensable, with no functional impairment noted on examination. The lumbar spine disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of ankylosis or other disabling symptoms.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been remanded for further evaluation.

Service connection is granted for a low back disability and tinnitus. Service connection is denied for right ear hearing loss.,The Veteran's left ear hearing loss claim is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating higher than 20 percent for the lumbar spine disability prior to March 17, 2014; a rating higher than 40 percent for the lumbar spine disability from March 17, 2014; and initial ratings higher than 10 percent for left and right hip bursitis based on limitation of extension. The claims are also remanded for an initial compensable rating for left and right hip bursitis based on limitation of flexion.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and a need for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back and left shoulder disabilities due to insufficient medical rationale in previous opinions. New VA opinions are needed regarding whether these conditions had onset during service or are related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his back disability is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show any limitation of motion warranting a higher rating, and thus, the current 40% rating remains in effect.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have potentially increased in severity, and current examinations are needed to accurately assess the current level of severity. Additionally, the issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to November 9, 2020 is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claims on appeal.