Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating higher than 20 percent for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities has been remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of low back, right leg, left hip, and bilateral knee disabilities due to secondary service-connected left foot and ankle disability. The VA examiner is requested to provide opinions on the etiology of these conditions based on the Veteran's lay statements and medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in the October 2021 rating decision and the need for updated court findings. The Veteran's disability claims are also being reviewed.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the current condition is not related to active service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to issue a Statement of the Case (SOC) regarding his claims for increased evaluations for service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a ruptured disc was granted.,The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a pinched nerve (back disorder) was granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder, characterized as lumbar strain and degenerative disc disease, is related to his active-duty service. The appeal for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for low back disability, TDIU prior to March 6, 2003, and SMC from March 19, 2001, to February 3, 2015 are being remanded due to the need for additional records.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted by the agency of original jurisdiction. The claims for other conditions have been remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral foot disability. The claims for service connection for back, left knee, right knee, and bronchitis disabilities have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year after separation from service. The Board also found that the current disabilities were not caused by active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has found that the AOJ did not substantially comply with prior remand directives and has therefore ordered further development for three issues: a rating of more than 40 percent for low back pain, a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinea versicolor, and TDIU. The remanded issues could significantly impact the decision on TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for dizziness, right ankle condition, left knee condition, lumbar spine condition, and prostate condition due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and higher ratings for cervical spine and lumbosacral spine arthritis are remanded.

The Veteran's spinal stenosis with DDD and IVDS is rated at 50 percent, granting a higher rating than previously. The TDIU claim is granted as the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. Service connection for bilateral upper extremity disability secondary to service-connected lower back disability is remanded.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve) are each rated at 20 percent, but no higher.,The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome is granted a disability rating of 40 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his low back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development. The issue of TDIU, which is inextricably intertwined with the low back disability claim, is also being remanded.

The Board has determined that there is at least a 50% chance (equipoise) that the Veteran's cervical spine and back disorders are related to his military service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The appeal for service connection of a left hand disability is dismissed. The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have current hearing loss to a degree that qualifies as a ratable disability. The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back, knee, and hip disabilities due to potential aggravation by pre-existing conditions.