Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration of entitlement to TDIU from January 30, 2009 (the date of claim) to October 5, 2021 due to service-connected low back disability and radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for low back degenerative disc disease, back strain, and arthritis, finding that the current disabilities are related to an in-service injury in 1986 while serving in the Army Reserves.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability due to conflicting opinions and lack of evidence regarding continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's right knee and right hip disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine, bilateral shoulder, right knee, and lumbar spine disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in previous decisions. The Veteran's statements regarding injuries during service are considered.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The left knee disability claim is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Board has ordered remand of the service connection claims for low back and right knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions. The VA needs to obtain new opinions from an appropriate clinician that address whether these conditions are related to active duty, including in-service injuries.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, including degenerative joint disease (DJD), finding that the Veteran's current back disability is related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to incomplete VA medical opinions that did not address the Veteran's statements regarding his in-service injury and history of his conditions.

The Board denied the motion to reverse or revise a January 2015 decision that awarded a 30% rating for status-post headaches as of June 22, 2012. The low back disorder issue was remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations due to new evidence being added to his case file.

The Board denied service connection for a back condition, finding that the current conditions are not related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has determined that the VA did not properly consider whether the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents, such as Agent Green. The Board also found that a VA examination is needed for the Veteran's claimed upper and lower back conditions and left and right knee conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims regarding his lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities, as the most recent VA examinations did not include necessary range of motion testing.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, back condition, and shoulder condition are granted. The claim for increased rating of tinea cruris is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran requires regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including bipolar disorder, lumbar radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, lumbar strain, and tinnitus. As a result, SMC based on the need for aid and attendance is granted.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome, including degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine status post fusion L2-L5 due to a lack of adequate medical opinion.

The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the claims for increased ratings are denied. The Veteran also received a grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability was granted, with a rating of 20 percent effective December 4, 2019. Service connection for PTSD and hypertension were also granted, with hypertension being granted due to the PACT Act. The claims for sleep disability and bilateral hips/knees/arthritis are denied.