Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right knee, and left knee conditions due to a lack of current diagnoses or evidence of functional loss constituting disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip and foot disabilities, which are alleged to be secondary to her already service-connected bilateral knee disability. The VA will conduct further examinations to determine if these conditions are related to her active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance as they do not cause anatomical loss or use of both feet, blindness in both eyes with visual acuity of 5/200 or less, permanent bedridden status, or being so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance.

The claims of service connection for low back disability, residuals of right arm burn, and left knee disability have been granted. The Veteran's right arm burn is considered direct service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and bilateral pes planus, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not originate in or were otherwise related to his active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's applications to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for low back and bilateral knee disabilities, finding that new and material evidence was not received.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding his service-connected bilateral pes planus, low back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability as he withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been withdrawn. The remaining issues, including those related to the left hand and right knee disabilities, are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

GERD has been dismissed as the RO granted a new claim for GERD in June 2023, which was not part of the original appeal.,Service connection for scars on the bilateral eyebrows is granted. The Veteran's lay testimony regarding his injury during service is considered credible.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities, and a back disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's back disorder.

The Board has determined that additional evidence was submitted after the appeal was transferred to the Board and a waiver of RO review was sought. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus is remanded as no SSOC addressing this issue has been issued.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, sciatic nerve was granted a 40 percent rating from October 17, 2012 to February 8, 2013.,An initial rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disease (arthritis) of the lumbar spine prior to November 7, 2019 and since January 1, 2020 was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for a back disability and a rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus. The Veteran's claim is being reviewed due to the need for additional medical opinions and examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral and cervical spine disabilities, but has remanded both issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee, right knee, and thoracolumbar spine disabilities are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to comply with previous remand directives. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic low back disability is now before the RO for further review.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left lumbosacral plexopathy is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a lumbar spine condition, including as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability, due to inadequate opinion in the March 2023 VA examination.