Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disability, left hip disability, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (claimed as a left leg disability), left knee disability, and disabilities manifested by left heel pain and numbness of the left foot toe due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's condition did not manifest as chronic in service or within a presumptive period and was not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for above the right knee amputation and increased ratings for his back disability are denied.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent, effective as of November 13, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the cervical spine, lumbar spine, right shoulder, bilateral hands, and left shoulder due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between his current conditions and military service. The case will be returned for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right big toe pain and bilateral hip pain are dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, Lyme disease residuals with right elbow arthralgia, limitation of flexion prior to November 4, 2021, Lyme disease residuals with left elbow arthralgia, pronation/supination, and left knee degenerative joint disease with residual Lyme disease arthralgia (limitation of flexion).

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, OSA, and low back disability. Additional records development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted the petitions to reopen the appeals for service connection for lumbar spine disability, right ankle disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The appeal for service connection for dizziness is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability was denied as the evidence did not show ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine, and there were no episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome requiring bed rest prescribed by a physician.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back condition, finding no medical nexus between his current condition and military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The lumbosacral strain and lumbar stenosis are currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under the General Rating Formula for Disease and Injuries of the Spine.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a new medical examination and opinion to address functional impairment during flare-ups.

The Veteran's tinnitus and sleep apnea are granted as service connected. The remaining issues of right shoulder, low back, neck, left knee, costochondritis, and residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities because of insufficient reasons and bases in addressing referral of the issue of TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection of a low back disability due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset and causation. The Veteran's lay statements and testimony are considered credible, but further medical examination is needed to determine if his current back issues are related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, finding that there is no medical evidence linking his current back condition to his active duty service. The right and left knee conditions have been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic thoracolumbar pain, segmental and somatic dysfunction of the lumbar and thoracic region, ankylosing spondylitis of the cervical spine, neuralgia sciatic nerve, and neuralgia of all three radicular groups.,The Board also remanded the issue of a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for stress fracture right inferior pubic ramus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluations of various disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying his periods of service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability, which may be related to her service or other factors.

The Veteran's claims of earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found no evidence supporting an earlier effective date, and the current assigned ratings are considered appropriate based on the medical findings.