Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder disorder, cervical spine disorder, and lumbar spine disorder. The evidence supports a finding that these conditions were incurred during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability, cardiac disability (to include coronary artery disease), and pulmonary disability due to insufficient evidence regarding in-service injury.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for thoracic vertebrae wedge deformities with DDD prior to May 31, 2022 was denied as the disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 5242.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for thoracic vertebrae wedge deformities with DDD from June 1, 2022 was also denied. The VA examiner found that the disability did not meet the criteria for an increased rating under DC 5242.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and readjudication due to outstanding VA treatment records from non-VA providers through the Community Care Network, as well as extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable criteria.

The Board has remanded the appeal due to insufficient evidence and scheduling issues, including a missed VA examination. The Veteran's low back disability severity needs to be reassessed, along with any neurological or radiculopathy conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition and left knee strain is remanded due to the need for VA examinations. The claims are not currently decided as they have been previously denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The claim for increased ratings was denied as the evidence did not show that the Veteran met the criteria for a compensable evaluation prior to January 31, 2018, in excess of 10 percent prior to July 5, 2022, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter. The claims for service connection were denied as there was no evidence of a current skin disorder or headaches at any time during the pendency of the claim.

The Veteran's claim to establish service connection for a lower back disability has been reopened, and the case is remanded for further development including an addendum medical opinion.

The Board has determined that new VA examinations are needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, as the previous opinions were based on a lack of evidence in the service treatment records and did not adequately consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms during service.

The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis and allergic rhinitis have been granted service connection. The scar associated with umbilical hernia has received a 10% rating, while the nerve damage, neck disorder, and left ankle condition are still pending.

The Board has vacated its January 2022 decision, which denied increased ratings for the Veteran's low back disability and right lower extremity nerves. The issues of increased ratings for sciatic radiculopathy and femoral radiculopathy are remanded. A compensable rating for a surgical scar on the back is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed back disability, as well as determine if it is related to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for higher disability ratings and compensation were denied across multiple conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, and back disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headache disability, back disability, and scoliosis, degenerative disc disease, and spondylosis of the thoracolumbar spine have been granted with an effective date of June 1, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 29, 2012.

The claim for service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea has been reopened and granted. The rating for Lumbar Spondylolisthesis of L5-S1 prior to May 1, 2017 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability, left ankle disability, lumbar spine disability, and headache disability. The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence of record.,There is no credible evidence showing that the Veteran has any current heart disability or left ankle disability since his active duty service.

The Veteran withdrew all issues on appeal, including service connection claims and evaluations for various disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left side rib disability was granted, but the claims for right knee and lumbar spine disabilities were denied.,The Board has remanded the issues regarding the right shoulder and low back pain disabilities due to insufficient evidence.