Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial disability ratings in several conditions have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn all his pending appeals.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, right knee, and left knee disabilities as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right shoulder, left knee, and back disabilities were granted separate 10 percent ratings from November 2, 2015 to May 23, 2016. A rating higher than 10 percent for the right shoulder disability was denied during this period.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability due to new and material evidence. However, it denied the claim as there was no in-service injury or disease that led to the current condition.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings on the right and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, as well as degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and lumbar strain, and right and left hip osteoarthritis are being remanded due to incomplete medical records.,The Veteran's claims for higher ratings on the right and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, as well as degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and lumbar strain, and right and left hip osteoarthritis are being remanded due to incomplete medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims for a lumbar spine disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to procedural issues and need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his back disability is denied as the evidence does not show that it meets or exceeds the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent.,Service connection for frontal lobe damage is denied because there is no current diagnosis of such condition.

The Board has remanded the cases involving service connection for hearing loss, hemorrhoids, lumbar spine disability, and a neurological disorder of the bilateral lower extremities (numbness in legs and feet).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities prior to January 14, 2021. The case is now before the Board again for further appellate action.

The Board has determined that a new medical opinion is needed to address the Veteran's claim for service connection due to an inaccurate factual premise in the previous VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder. The Veteran will be given a new VA examination to determine if his current condition is related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to outdated medical examinations. The Veteran's left knee conditions, back disorder, right hip disorder, and left hip disorder are all under review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from Dublin VAMC in 1973 and providing an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of his current condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence, as well as for her back and right hip disabilities. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

Your appeals for service connection of cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left knee disabilities have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran while his appeal was pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for left ankle, left knee (limited flexion), left knee (painful extension and functional loss), left knee (slight instability), and lumbar disabilities due to insufficient opinions in the August 2021 VA examination reports. Additional examinations are needed to address the Veteran's disorders during the period on appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for back and neck disabilities, finding clear and unmistakable evidence that the conditions existed prior to service. The Veteran's claims for leg and foot disabilities are remanded due to insufficient medical evidence.,Service connection is not granted for right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to June 13, 2014 was denied as there is not sufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility that he was unemployable by reason of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis and IVDS is rated at 40 percent from March 16, 2017 to March 2, 2020.,Effective March 2, 2020, the Veteran's disability remains rated at 40 percent. Effective March 18, 2019, he is granted a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's low back condition.