Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and initial evaluations in several conditions due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disorder and dismissed the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for lumbar spine strain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has remanded both his back disorder claim and his lower extremity neurological disorder claim.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, frostbite of the feet, and increased rating for degenerative disc disease L5-S1 are being remanded due to new evidence received.,Special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance is granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus and migraines have been granted service connection.,Service connection for migraines has also been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a current disability of migraines that started in service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back and left shoulder disabilities have been granted with effective dates prior to January 8, 2013.,The claim to reopen the right heel bone spur has been denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate examination reports and outstanding records. The TDIU claim is deferred until the AOJ completes the requested actions.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 60 percent, and the right knee disability is rated at 50 percent. The Veteran seeks increased ratings for these conditions.,SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status from March 1, 2021 was denied as he does not meet the criteria.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back condition and a left foot condition other than peripheral neuropathy, finding no medical nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been granted a separate 20 percent rating for frequent episodes of locking, pain, and swelling. The remaining issues are remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hyperlipidemia was dismissed. The claims of service connection for left and right ankle conditions, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, obesity, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depressive disorder, eating disorder, and sleeping disturbances), right knee osteoarthritis and patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee osteoarthritis and patellofemoral pain syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, right hip pain, left hip pain, neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and neuropathy of the right lower extremity have been reopened.

The Board denied service connection for low back, right hand, left hand, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection was not granted as there were no competent opinions linking the current diagnoses to service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 40 percent from June 19, 2014 to September 27, 2019.

The Veteran's right and left knee disorders, as well as his right and left hip disorders, are being remanded for further evaluation due to inadequate medical opinions.,The lumbar spine DDD and thoracic spine fracture claims are also being remanded for a more complete evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and remand have been addressed. The AOJ is directed to schedule the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his right knee, lumbar spine, sciatic radiculopathy, and femoral radiculopathy.,The Veteran's TDIU claim remains inextricably intertwined with the increased rating issues.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine, right knee, right leg, and right foot disorders due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease is rated at 20 percent, and his bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated at 20 percent. The appeal for a higher rating for the lumbar condition has been denied.

The Board has denied service connection for hemorrhoids and remanded the claim for a lower back disorder (claimed as sciatic nerve pain). The case is now before the Board again, with an addendum opinion needed to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lower back disorder.

The Board denied increased evaluations for lumbar spine disc herniation, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy as the evidence did not support ratings higher than 20 percent.