Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent since November 6, 2019. The rating for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy remains denied.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and service connection claims have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence in their current evaluations, and further examination is needed to determine if any of the claimed disabilities are related to active service or aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various knee and hip conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back, bilateral knee and ankle, and right wrist disabilities due to insufficient examination reports and outstanding records. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings or service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, effective from August 31, 2012. Prior to this date, the disability was rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service connection claims for back disability, right knee disability, and headaches have been denied.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II to include as due to exposure to herbicides, hydraulic fluid, or secondary to a back condition is remanded.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claims for service connection of a back disorder and skin disorder (claimed as fungus condition, bilateral feet) is granted. The claim for service connection of a left knee disorder is denied. The appeal seeking total disability rating based on individual employability due to service-connected disabilities is remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for higher evaluations and service connection. Specifically, VA treatment records are missing, and a new examination is required to assess the current symptomatology of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to February 21, 2014; in excess of 20 percent from February 21, 2014 to January 10, 2018 and in excess of 40 percent from January 11, 2018 for lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis and disc herniation has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied reopening the claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disability because no new and material evidence was presented.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity disabilities (sciatic and femoral nerves), and erectile dysfunction are granted with a 20% rating. The issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to January 1, 2012 is dismissed.

The Veteran's initial rating for intervertebral disc disease of the lumbar spine was granted at a 20 percent level, effective prior to August 19, 2021. The appeal is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and scar did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 5, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II caused or aggravated his lumbar spine disability. The examiner must address causation and aggravation of obesity by the diabetes mellitus, as well as its impact on the lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete STRs and outstanding VA/privately obtained treatment records. The Veteran is also requested to provide more specific information regarding his in-service injuries.

The Board found that the Veteran's timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) regarding his July 2013 denial of service connection for a low back disorder was filed, and thus the appeal is granted.

The Board has remanded the claim for additional development, including obtaining a detailed employment history from February 2015 forward and any records related to the Veteran's SSA disability benefits claim. The decision is pending further action.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine status post laminectomies and fusion should be remanded to allow for consideration of additional evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and additional development is needed.