Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current thoracolumbar spine disability had its onset during his active service and is granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine disorder and low back disorder, finding that there is a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease is remanded due to the inadequacy of the October 2019 VA examination, which did not adequately address functional loss during flare-ups.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, lumbar spine, left knee injury pain, and right knee osteoarthritis with meniscal tear.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral flat feet and remanded the issues of service connection for lower back condition, left arm painful scar under DC 7804, and left arm painful scar under DC 7805.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, claimed as lumbar spondylosis, herniated L5-S1, and chronic pain of the lumbosacral area. The claims for diabetes mellitus type II, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including total abdominal hysterectomy, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, bilateral plantar fasciitis, chronic depressive disorder, right and left ankle tendonitis, bilateral Morton's neuroma, hallux valgus right foot, and hallux valgus left foot, have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is remanded for additional development, including obtaining a retrospective VA medical opinion and clarifying the loss of range of motion due to repetitive use over time and flare-ups.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including spondylosis and scoliosis, as well as his cervical spine disability, are remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased disability rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis. The claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities are remanded due to a lack of a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for recurrent right and left knee disabilities, as well as a lumbar spine disability. The claims are being returned to VA for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran currently has a neck or low back disability that is related to service, as well as whether her numbness in bilateral feet disability may be due to her service-connected pes cavus.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased rating and TDIU due to service-connected low back disability. The Veteran needs additional medical opinions regarding his neurological conditions and retrospective findings of his low back disability, as well as a completed VA Form 21-8940.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, have rendered him unemployable since June 2, 2016. Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance is also established as of that date.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for sciatica of the left lower extremity is granted. The Board also remanded three issues: initial rating for sacroiliac degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine; compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB); and service connection for sciatica of left lower extremity as secondary to sacroiliac degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset and relationship to service. The case is sent back for further development, including an examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and bilateral foot disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronic conditions in service or within presumptive periods. The Board also found that any current disabilities were not related to service.

The Veteran's lumbar strain has not met the criteria for a higher rating, as it does not result in forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine limited to 30 degrees or less, nor does it show objective neurological abnormalities such as radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lower back, right knee, left knee, and chronic cough conditions are related to his active service. However, due process requires a remand for additional examinations and opinions to address secondary service connection claims and exposure to burn pits.