Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

Your claim for service connection for a back disability has been resolved as the RO granted service connection for a lumbosacral strain in May 2023, and your appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected IVDS and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine are currently rated at 10 percent, but a higher rating is warranted for the entire rating period prior to January 16, 2020.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disorders due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives and outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has granted a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, effective from August 30, 2003, to June 26, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting the grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy has been granted a 40 percent rating, but his left lower extremity radiculopathy and back disability ratings remain remanded for further evaluation. The SMC claim is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder rotator cuff tear and impingement syndrome, lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee meniscal and anterior cruciate ligament tears with degenerative arthritis.,The Board has also granted service connection for these conditions on a causation basis.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of his service-connected back disability remains in appellate status, and the issue is remanded due to insufficient evidence. The claim for left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with the back disability is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's additional disability was caused by a foreseeable event and if so, whether VA personnel were at fault. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board denied service connection for neck and back disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service.,Service connection was granted for diffuse muscle pain due to a MUCMI.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including degenerative arthritis of the spine and DDD of the thoracolumbar and cervical spine with sensory neuropathy and radiculopathy (claimed as nerve disorder/neurological signs and symptoms), is presumed to have existed prior to service. The Board found no clear and unmistakable evidence that any increase in severity occurred during service, thus denying service connection.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current DDD and lumbar spine arthritis, as well as bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, are proximately caused or aggravated by his service-connected testicular cancer.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, right knee tendonitis, left knee tendonitis, chest wall muscle strain, and tension headaches are being remanded for additional examinations to assess their current severity.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular percentage standards set forth for a TDIU prior to April 12, 2017. The Board found that he was not limited in the types of work he could perform due to his service-connected conditions and thus denied the claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, back condition, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right lower extremity neuropathy due to outstanding VA and/or private treatment records and further examination.

The Veteran's back disability is now rated at 40 percent effective June 28, 2021. The rating was increased from a previous 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical and lumbar spine conditions are being remanded due to unclear examiner responses regarding range of motion, potential ankylosis, and the discontinuation of intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS).

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his intervertebral disc syndrome (previously lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine) is remanded due to inadequate examination and potential flare-ups not adequately addressed.

The Board has granted service connection for a lower back disorder and remanded the issue of service connection for a right shoulder disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions. The issues include service connection for inguinal hernia, right shoulder disorder, eye disorder, heart disorder, GERD, and low back disorder.