Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a low back disability must be remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations. The VA is required to provide a new examination or opinion where there is insufficient evidence of record to decide the claim.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and left knee strain as the appellant requested to withdraw his appeal.

The Board has denied an initial rating higher than 20 percent for the Veteran's low back disability, but has remanded the case to determine if a TDIU is warranted prior to November 24, 2010.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to inadequate explanation of effective date and improper reliance on prescribed medication in denying higher ratings. Additional development is required, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for anterolisthesis and spondylosis of the lumbare spine, bilateral refractive error, and an initial disability rating higher than 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, type II. The appeal is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back and cervical spine disorders due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's lay statements of having pain since active service are not addressed by the VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The issues are related to exposure to herbicide agents during active duty in Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that these conditions started during service and continue to present.

The Veteran's neck disability and radiculopathy have been granted with specific ratings, but the issue of a higher rating for his low back disability is being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and IVDS, headaches, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during service or were related to in-service injuries.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted for any period of appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for neck disability, back disability, left hip disability, left knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability that is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable and excess ratings for migraines prior to January 8, 2018, and on and after January 8, 2018, have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, and annular tears has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating and reduction of his disability rating is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and review of new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent her from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for the issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and entitlement to service connection for a head condition, to include as secondary to service-connected back disability. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine prior to February 19, 2020 was denied as there was no evidence of limitation in range of motion or other disabling symptoms.,For the period from February 19, 2020 onwards, the Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was also denied due to lack of additional disability beyond what is already reflected in the current 20% rating.

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

The Board has remanded the claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, low back disability, bladder disability (neurogenic bladder), hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to potential service connection during a period of ACDUTRA or IDT from April 24 to May 16, 1999.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for reopening a service connection claim for a back condition, and the Board dismissed the appeal as a result.