Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for headaches, but the Veteran's service connection claims for other conditions are remanded due to inadequate VA medical opinions and failure to consider the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between his active duty service and his current condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a retrospective medical opinion to assess the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spondylosis prior to May 16, 2018. The claim will be readjudicated and a supplemental statement of the case issued.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a back disability and hypertension due to new evidence received since the April 2015 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to open medical questions and need for new VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent from October 10, 2019. His left lower extremity radiculopathy is assigned an initial rating of 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders due to incomplete VA opinions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions as related to his active duty.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been dismissed.,The Veteran's service connection claims for upper back disability and left arm nerve damage have been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to new and material evidence having been received, allowing for a reevaluation of the service connection claim. The issue remains on appeal as the Veteran's application to reopen her previously denied claim is still pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, skin disability (tinea manuum), and right ankle disability due to new evidence and testimony.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and the need to account for the Veteran's reports of onset and continuity of symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip osteoarthritis status post total replacement with femoral impingement syndrome and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with a lumbosacral strain, spondylosis, and scoliosis. Service connection for hypertension was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including back disability, left ankle disability, left arm disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability as secondary to his right ankle disability. The decision found that there was no evidence of a service-connected disability or an in-service aggravation of pre-existing conditions.

The Veteran's rating reduction from 40 percent to 10 percent for his lumbar spine disability, effective April 1, 2018, was found to be improper due to clear and unmistakable error (CUE). The AOJ restored the original 40 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations related to her bilateral foot disability, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, right shoulder impingement, and cervical radiculopathy of the right upper extremity due to incomplete or inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the previous remand instructions were not substantially complied with and further remand is necessary for additional development, including obtaining addendum opinions from a qualified clinician regarding the Veteran's lay statements about his back symptoms and bilateral radicular symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating prior to May 18, 2017, for her service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is remanded due to inadequate previous VA examinations and the need for a retrospective medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional examinations to address deficiencies in previous opinions and to ensure that all relevant evidence is considered.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased evaluations of his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and left lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left knee osteoarthritis was denied, but he received a TDIU effective from November 11, 2020.