Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's low back disorder, diagnosed as degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine with spine hemangioma, is granted service connection.,The Veteran's left knee disorder, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, is granted service connection. The right knee disorder resulting in total knee replacement is also granted service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee and left ankle disabilities due to lack of current diagnoses. Service connection for a spine disability is remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings in excess of 10 percent for cervical spine disability and coronary artery disease have been withdrawn.,These issues are therefore dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ankle disability and a thoracolumbar spine disability. The right ankle sprain is considered presumptively incurred in service, while the thoracolumbar spine condition is presumed to have existed prior to service.,Both conditions are now recognized as being related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine is being remanded due to inadequate examination and lack of information about flare-ups.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals regarding service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as the rating issues for back, right knee, left knee, right thigh, and left thigh disabilities. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain private treatment records and provide addendum opinions. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected lumbar spine disability is denied. For the period of March 12, 2015, to February 1, 2016, the Veteran's right lower extremity femoral radiculopathy was rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for additional examinations and medical opinions to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including low back condition, muscle condition (restless leg syndrome), blood clots, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), bladder condition, and sleep apnea. The claims will be further evaluated based on the results.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, right thigh limited extension, and right hip bursitis are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and degenerative disc disease with anterior spurring of the cervical spine, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these disabilities were incurred during active duty.

The Board has restored the original disability ratings for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, as well as intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative disc disease L4 - L5. The effective dates remain unchanged.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent from December 5, 2016 to May 12, 2023. The rating for his left and right knee strains remains at 10 percent throughout the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a headache disorder and lumbar spine disability due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disability and bilateral hearing loss disability due to inadequate medical opinions that did not address the Veteran's lay statements of continuity of symptoms.

The Board has denied an increased rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, as there is no persuasive evidence of ankylosis.,The Board has remanded the issues regarding bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to the need for retrospective medical opinions regarding the Veteran's back and neck disabilities. The SMC claim is also remanded as it depends on the development of the spine disability issues.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disability and a neck disability, finding the evidence does not support a link to active duty service. The thyroid condition claim is remanded due to lack of verification of radiation exposure.,Service connection will be considered for the Veteran's claimed conditions based on direct evidence rather than presumptions or secondary theories.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability began during service or is related to an in-service injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral ankle disability due to failure to appear at scheduled examinations. The case is now pending for further development.