Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board granted service connection for low back disability, right patella plica syndrome, right knee instability, and right knee dislocated semilunar cartilage with frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion. The effective date is not specified.

The Board dismissed all claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with its remand directives and thus additional remand is required to obtain a VA medical opinion addressing whether manifestations of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability are functionally equivalent to either favorable or unfavorable ankylosis.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected lower back disability is being remanded due to the need for a retrospective medical opinion on the severity of his condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lower back, right foot, left foot, right knee, and left knee disorders due to incomplete records from Fort Chaffee.

The Veteran's low back disability is being remanded for a new evaluation to determine its current severity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his left foot scar has also been denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, sciatica in either lower extremity, and bilateral hearing loss are denied. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine if his hearing loss was aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for her service-connected bilateral knee and low back disabilities due to inadequate examinations in August 2011. The case will be returned for further examination and rating determinations.

The Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus was dismissed as the Veteran did not submit new and material evidence within one year of the November 2013 rating decision.,The Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine has been reopened. The Board found that new and material evidence has been received, including VA and private treatment records, lay statements, and August 2022 hearing testimony.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for a lumbar spine disorder due to insufficient medical opinion and incomplete record development.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, finding no credible evidence linking the condition to service. The Veteran's current diagnosis of degenerative disc disease is not related to his time in service.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU based on his service-connected lumbar spine disability is remanded to the VA Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's claims for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left arm, hypertension, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been denied. The Board has found that there is no current diagnosis or evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection for bilateral knee disability and lumbar spine disability is remanded as VA was unable to obtain the Veteran's outstanding treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine degeneration, sprain, and pain with right and left lower extremity radiculopathy as these conditions began during active duty training (ACDUTRA) and have continued since then.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is granted service connection as secondary to his right shoulder disability. The issue of a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis and spondylosis of the lumbar spine, and TDIU prior to July 7, 2016, are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain and service connection for cervical strain have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is currently rated as noncompensable prior to January 13, 2020. The Board has remanded this issue for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic kidney disease and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to January 27, 2021. From that date, his combined disability rating was 100 percent due to the combination of all his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition and lower extremity radiculopathy were evaluated, with the lumbar spine condition receiving a 20% rating from July 15, 2013. The right and left lower extremity radiculopathy each received a 20% rating from August 2, 2022.