Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected lumbar spine and left lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities due to additional development being required.

The Veteran's appeal for non-service-connected pension has been withdrawn.,The Board is remanding the issues of service connection for bilateral wrist disability, lower-back condition, sleep apnea disorder (to include as secondary to PTSD), bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral knee condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's contentions regarding a tailbone injury sustained during National Guard service and his current lumbar spine pain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for a greater than 20 percent rating for his lumbosacral spine strain with intervertebral disc syndrome and right leg sciatica, and for TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 20 percent before March 23, 2017. From March 23, 2017 to December 15, 2019, a rating of 40 percent was granted. After that date, the claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar osteoarthritis and whether it is secondary to his service-connected left foot condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from March 23, 2010 to December 27, 2012. The Board granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations. The issues of service connection for a back disability and a right leg disability are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for low back, bilateral leg, and bilateral ankle conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back condition, finding insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between his current disability and his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is remanded as further development is needed, including obtaining his vocational rehabilitation records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder, low back, and bilateral finger disabilities were not incurred in service. The claims for these conditions are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he has been able to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability in many cases, or an in-service event that is related to the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is not rated higher than the current levels for IVDS, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, or femoral nerve radiculopathy. The case is remanded to allow further development.

The Board has restored the Veteran's disability ratings for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and right knee scar to their previous levels, effective July 1, 2014.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining updated VA records and scheduling a new examination. The issues of reducing ratings and entitlement to higher ratings are also being considered.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent, but no higher. The Board also granted a TDIU prior to March 28, 2018 due to the combined effect of multiple service-connected disabilities.