Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a low back condition and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to insufficient evidence in the December 2019 VA examination report. The case is returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination.

Your claim for service connection for a low back disability has been granted, but the issue is dismissed because your condition was already covered by another grant of service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and initial rating for her right shoulder recurrent rotator cuff tear has been granted. The issue of an increased rating for her low back disability remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, granting his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his chronic thoracolumbar strain is being remanded due to inadequate examination and failure to consider the Veteran's lay reports of symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on functional loss or incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of various conditions have been withdrawn and are dismissed.,New evidence has reopened claims for PTSD, lumbar spine disability, congestive heart failure, erectile dysfunction, and kidney disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for bladder disability due to withdrawal. The claims of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, hypertension, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, cervical spine disability, obstructive sleep apnea, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory condition, and GERD are all REMANDED due to new evidence received.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back condition, also claimed as lumbar and thoracic spine conditions. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the right-hand condition is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for TB due to lack of current disability evidence. The claims for left knee, lumbar spine, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities are remanded as the VA examiner's opinions were not sufficient.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is dismissed. The appeal for a higher disability rating remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, allergic rhinitis, and asthma. The conditions are presumed to be related to the Veteran's exposure to burn pits during his deployment in Iraq.

The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for a lumbar spine disability due to insufficient rationale in the previous examination report and the need for additional medical records.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, effective December 20, 2013. Separate noncompensable ratings are granted for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities. The Veteran's left knee and right knee disabilities remain rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his contentions.

The Board has remanded the claims for left ear hearing loss, low back disability, and tinnitus due to insufficient examination opinions addressing the Veteran's self-reported history of symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy of the lower extremities and lumbar spine disability have been remanded due to incomplete information or evidence. The issues include seeking higher ratings for these conditions, which are currently rated as 20 percent each.

The Veteran's back disability resulted in a separate rating of 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy as of February 2, 2017, and a separate 10 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy as of April 3, 2019. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings prior to August 21, 2015, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter are remanded. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also remanded.