Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity due to insufficient medical opinions regarding functional loss and ankylosis.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine DJD, right knee DJD, left knee DJD, left shoulder DJD, right foot pes planus, and left foot pes planus. The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss disability is not related to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection. The remaining issues of right hip, back, and TBI disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on housebound status due to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. However, he is denied special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance as the evidence does not demonstrate that he requires such assistance.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for coccydynia, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence in favor of a link between his current condition and his military service. The appeal was reopened due to new evidence received since the last denial.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory condition of chronic cough, but withdrawn the appeals for chronic fatigue syndrome and right shoulder condition.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and residuals of cerebrovascular accident, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not manifest in service or are unrelated to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantial gainful employment, warranting a TDIU effective December 20, 2000. The Board also remanded the issue of whether a TDIU is warranted prior to December 20, 2000.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, right knee, and left knee disorders due to a lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various musculoskeletal and auditory disorders due to the need for additional medical evidence and new opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

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

The Board has remanded the claim for an increased rating for lumbar spine DDD due to insufficient evidence in previous examinations and a need for a retrospective medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the withdrawal of his attorney as representative and hearing request. As a result, all issues on appeal are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for gouty arthritis, an increase in a 10 percent rating for low back degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease, and entitlement to TDIU due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are granted a rating of 20 percent, effective March 14, 2012.,The Veteran's lumbar spondylolysis is also granted a rating of 20 percent, effective March 14, 2012. Additionally, the Veteran is granted TDIU due to his service-connected lumbar spondylolysis and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to new evidence and conflicting medical opinions. The issues include hypothyroidism, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, right knee degenerative joint disease, and left knee degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's TDIU and SMP claims are dismissed as his Parkinson's disease and related conditions have resulted in a 100% schedular rating, which is greater than the benefit of an SMP.

The Veteran's back and cervical spine disabilities are not service-connected as they did not manifest during active duty or due to a known clinical diagnosis.,Service connection for GERD is granted, with the condition having manifested during active service. The claim for chronic pain throughout the body is also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed back, neck, and right shoulder disorders based on credible lay evidence of in-service injury and continuous symptoms since separation.