Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disorder, right knee disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and associated lumbar radiculopathy are remanded due to insufficient development of evidence. The AOJ is instructed to search for missing service records and provide a new opinion from an appropriate clinician regarding the onset and causation of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased rating and TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to February 27, 1998, due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability during that period.

The Veteran's appeal for a lower back disorder was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal during the April 2023 hearing.,Service connection is granted for right foot onychomycosis, with the Board finding that the condition began in service and has persisted since then.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating issues related to back, left hip, right leg, and right hip disabilities due to her withdrawal of these claims.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating.,For the period prior to June 27, 2021, the Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity was rated at 10 percent, and for the period from June 27, 2021, it was rated at 20 percent. The Board denied higher ratings.,For the period prior to June 27, 2021, the Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was rated at 10 percent, and for the period from June 27, 2021, it was rated at 20 percent. The Board denied higher ratings.

The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a back condition is granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for residuals of right index finger laceration is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is granted a 40 percent rating, but no higher, for the period prior to June 10, 2019. The Veteran's service-connected radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities are each denied ratings in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's lumbar spine and left knee disabilities are granted as service connected. The effective date for the award is February 14, 2018.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, pinched nerve condition, and an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for back condition prior to October 6, 2014, are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the cause and aggravation of the Veteran's obesity, which may be related to his PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are considered to be so severe that they prevent him from obtaining or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral spine, cervical spine, left knee, and right knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability on a presumptive basis due to chronicity during active duty. The neck disability claim is remanded for further examination and determination of its etiology.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeals regarding the service connection for low back, left knee, and left hip disorders. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability has been reopened, but the Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not that his current condition began during active military service. The decision also reopened the previously denied claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for residuals of right femur chondrosarcoma, left hip condition, lower back condition, and right foot condition secondary to residuals of right femur chondrosarcoma due to insufficient rationale in previous opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar radiculopathy, sciatica, and left lower extremity neuritis. The other issues have been remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to missing service medical records and difficulty in notifying the Veteran of examination dates.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been granted. The right knee strain, left knee strain, lumbar strain, cervical strain, laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD), and sleep apnea are all rated at the 10% level. The anterior palatoplasty and uvuloplasty scar claim is denied.