Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has denied service connection for an eye disability and remanded the issue of service connection for a low back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his lumbar and thoracic spine degenerative joint disease, special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The AOJ is instructed to obtain private treatment records from Dr. Landingham and schedule the Veteran for a VA spine examination.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, bilateral tinea pedis, bilateral lung condition, sleep apnea, and low back disorder are all granted as service-connected.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of September 9, 1978, for the grant of service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and increased ratings to 40 percent for thoracolumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremities radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the claims for right leg radiculopathy, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability due to incomplete evidence. Service connection is granted for neck disability (also claimed as cervical spine strain spondylitis) and low back disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened and is granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, low back disability, and right thumb dislocation have also been reopened and are granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's low back disability is related to his in-service golf cart accident.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity sciatic neuropathy, and left lower extremity sciatic neuropathy were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current manifestations of the disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a chronic left knee disability and lumbar spine disability has been reopened, but the claims are not granted as there is no new and material evidence to support these conditions. The Board also remanded the cases for further development.

The Board has decided that a remand is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current low back disorder, which may be related to his in-service bicycle accident or heavy lifting during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and further development is required. The right hip condition may be related to service, but not secondary to service-connected conditions. The back condition was likely preexisting and did not worsen during service. The hypertension claim requires additional evidence. The left knee condition also appears to have a preexisting defect.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records, including those from private providers. The VA will obtain these records and then readjudicate the claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and to obtain medical records. The issues of entitlement to service connection are related to the severity of his service-connected disabilities, including lumbosacral strain, eczema, scarring alopecia, PFB, right lower extremity radiculopathy, hypertension, left elbow condition, and right elbow condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for her service-connected back disability was denied as the evidence did not show flexion limited to at least 30 degrees or ankylosis, which are required for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic cervical spine pain was reopened and granted. The Board found that the Veteran's current neck disability is related to his military service, including a reported injury while playing basketball in 1993.

The Board has remanded the claim of a rating in excess of 10 percent for a low back disability due to insufficient evidence from the previous examination.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his lumbosacral spine disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support ratings in excess of 10 percent prior to October 29, 2021 and 20 percent since then.

The Board has found the reduction of ratings for thoracolumbar spine disability and associated bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy to be improper, and has ordered their restoration. The Veteran's claims for higher ratings remain pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his thoracolumbar spine disability, narcolepsy, and IBS. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's initial noncompensable disability ratings for his bilateral wrist disabilities prior to July 18, 2019 are granted.