Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claim for an increased rating for a low back disorder due to concerns about the accuracy of the VA examination in November 2021, which did not document the Veteran's reports of flare-ups and functional loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The claims include service connection for various back and arm disabilities, as well as a TDIU claim.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions have been granted. The rating issues related to his knees and lower extremities, as well as his left eye disabilities, are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative disease with spinal stenosis and right ankle disability were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder. The claim will be reconsidered with a new medical examination.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased ratings in several conditions, including left sided sciatica radiculopathy and sinusitis. The Veteran's lumbar spine scar and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine were granted initial compensable ratings, while his spermatocele (status post vasectomy) and right ankle sprain with instability were denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of back and neck disabilities due to improvement in his conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right knee disability and other musculoskeletal issues, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of April 19, 2019.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and reopened the claim for a sleep disability to include sleep apnea. The remaining issues have been remanded due to new evidence received since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's left and right shoulder disabilities, as well as his right knee DJD and instability, are not rated higher than the assigned percentages.,Service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lower back condition, right knee condition, and asthma are not service-connected.,Specifically, the Board found no causal relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his active-duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions to determine the etiology of his cervical spine disability, assess the severity of his lumbar spondylosis, right knee strain, left knee degenerative joint disease, and TDIU. The issues on appeal include service connection for a cervical spine disability, increased ratings for lumbar spondylosis, right knee strain, and left knee degenerative joint disease, as well as TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his thoracolumbar spine disability, right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and left knee instability were all denied by the Board. The Veteran was not granted any new or higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion and missing VA treatment records. The Veteran's statements about in-service back pain are considered, but the service treatment records do not document any issues.

The Board has granted restoration of the reduced ratings for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, but remanded for further development regarding increased rating claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for annular tear in posterior disc with DDD of the thoracolumbar spine and right knee strain with patellar spurring were denied. The effective dates for these awards are July 1, 2013.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his in-service injury and there is continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities of the right knee, left knee, and low back made him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from July 30, 2012. A TDIU was granted effective February 7, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable rating for service-connected left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and left leg disability have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, neck condition, and back condition.