Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease and right knee degenerative joint disease. The VA examinations conducted were found to be inadequate, necessitating further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, but further examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his left knee and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back disability, specifically whether it is related to service or secondary to other conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various orthopedic and respiratory conditions due to concerns about the adequacy of the VA examiners' opinions regarding the etiology of her claimed disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and prostate cancer (due to herbicide agent exposure) due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is required to provide authorization for VA to obtain private treatment records, and verification of his in-service herbicide agent exposure must be attempted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions have been denied. The maximum schedular rating of 10 percent has been granted for the right index finger disability, but no higher rating is warranted due to lack of ankylosis or functional impairment equivalent to amputation. Service connection was not established for any of the claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and low back condition due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and related secondary conditions due to issues arising from the PACT Act development. The other service connection claims are also being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected conditions and to determine if there is a relationship between his chronic kidney disease and his service-connected neurocardiogenic syncope or hypertension.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100% since November 21, 2017. He also has additional service-connected disabilities independently ratable at 60% or more and he meets the criteria for special monthly compensation under the housebound rate.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for a low back disability and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for herniated lumbar disc, radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right lower extremity, and radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, left lower extremity were granted with effective dates of November 9, 2006.,An effective date of November 9, 2006, was granted for the grant of service connection for herniated lumbar disc. Effective dates of November 9, 2006, were also granted for the grants of service connection for radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right lower extremity and left lower extremity.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right and left elbow disabilities, diabetes mellitus, voiding dysfunction, an upper arm abscess, low back disability, right-sided sciatica, and left-sided sciatica. The only condition granted was dementia.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc and joint disease and/or lentigo malignant melanoma.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis and urinary frequency disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar degenerative arthritis and thoracic scoliosis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various lower extremity conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his postoperative hernia repair scar and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis. The case is being remanded to consider additional evidence added since the January 2023 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that his current condition did not begin during active service and is otherwise unrelated to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has denied service connection for a cervical spine disability and remanded the claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral foot disability other than pes planus (hallux valgus and degenerative joint disease), and individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The case is being returned to the RO for further development.