Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board denied service connection for neck, lower back and cephalgia conditions as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease that caused these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his low back disability, rated at 40 percent throughout the appeal period, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show functional ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal of the denial of a compensable rating for residual scarring and HPV infection has been withdrawn.,The claim for an evaluation greater than 10 percent prior to January 29, 2021, for PTSD is remanded due to insufficient evidence of occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause and aggravation of the Veteran's chest pain, which is currently service-connected. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee strain with patellar tendonitis and left shoulder degenerative disc disease. The appeal regarding a left shoulder disability, neurologic is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his right knee, bilateral hip, and lumbar spine disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for the requested increased ratings.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was restored to a 60 percent evaluation, effective January 1, 2019. Service connection for PTSD and other conditions were denied.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain disability is granted as service connected. The issues of neck condition, left foot bunions with second, third, and fourth toe condition secondary to back condition, right lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to back condition, and left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to back condition are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and associated radiculopathy of the sciatic nerves have been granted increased ratings, with specific limitations on when these ratings apply.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new evidence received after the January 2021 SOC.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for service-connected lumbar disc bulge and right knee degenerative arthritis are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the extent of functional impairment during flare-ups.

The appeal of left lower extremity radiculopathy service connection is dismissed.,Effective dates for back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy are granted on February 17, 2023.

The Veteran's lower back condition, left and right sciatic nerve conditions, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, depression, anxiety) are all granted.,However, the claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending as it requires further examination.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and left ear hearing loss were denied as there was no evidence of a claim prior to February 24, 2020.,The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss was denied due to the average puretone threshold being at Level II (noncompensable).,Service connection for esophageal disorder and IBS were denied as there is no evidence of a relationship between these conditions and service.,Service connection for a back disability, right shoulder disability, respiratory disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder were granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and evaluation of the Veteran's low back disability and right shoulder disability due to inadequate examinations and failure to consider new evidence. The claims will be reconsidered with additional medical opinions.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's back condition and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the evidence did not show favorable or unfavorable ankylosis of the spine or incapacitating episodes meeting criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right foot disorder and a thoracolumbar spine disorder due to outstanding VA treatment records, need for an addendum medical opinion, and need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's lower back disability and right shoulder disability, as the previous opinions were inadequate.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine has been granted. The issues of entitlement to service connection for left hand, right hand, and knee conditions have been remanded.