Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board denied service connection for a lower back disorder, finding that the disability did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise etiologically related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain a supplemental VA opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left foot disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury, lumbar spine disability, and cervical spine disability due to new evidence submitted by the veteran. The claims are being reopened as there is now sufficient evidence to reopen the claim.

The Veteran's lumbar spurring and spondylosis with degenerative arthritis was rated at 20 percent, effective June 22, 2016. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher rating due to functional impairment caused by pain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that his degenerative arthritis of the spine and degenerative disc disorder did not originate in service or within one year of discharge. The Board concluded there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inconsistencies in the VA examinations and the need to obtain additional medical records. The Veteran's service-connected back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, painful scar, and linear scar are all being reviewed.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent, effective July 10, 2018. The Board has ordered a remand to obtain more recent medical records and conduct a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus, left knee disability, lower back disability, neck disability, acquired skin disorder (PFB, eczema, lichen simplex), and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, depressive disorder). The claim for bilateral pes planus is granted due to aggravation of a pre-existing condition during active service. The other claims are remanded as new evidence has been received but the Board did not find it sufficient to grant service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to new evidence received since the last final decisions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to inadequate examinations and insufficient medical evidence of record.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for plantar fasciitis is denied as the highest schedular rating has been assigned. The Board finds that his symptoms are fully addressed by the current rating criteria and do not warrant an extraschedular evaluation.

The Board has determined that there have been substantial compliance issues with the previous remand directives and thus, the appeal is being returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, back disability, right knee disability, and left ankle disability. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to address these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional information from Social Security Administration (SSA).

The Board has remanded the claims for a rating higher than 20 percent for a lumbar spine disorder prior to June 5, 2017 and a TDIU prior to December 1, 2015 due to inadequate compliance with previous remands. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability must be assessed retrospectively for the period prior to June 5, 2017, including range of motion estimates.

The Veteran's hypertension has been granted service connection.,Service connection for back disability, right wrist disability, left ankle disability, and headaches have all been granted.,A compensable rating of 10 percent is assigned for the Veteran's right hand little finger disability.,An initial rating higher than 20 percent for right shoulder disability has not been granted.,An increased 20 percent rating but not higher for left knee internal derangement has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board upheld the RO's decisions regarding right knee degenerative joint disease, lumbar spondylosis, and sciatic nerve radiculopathy from September 24, 2021 onwards. However, separate 20 percent disability ratings were granted for femoral nerve radiculopathy (both lower extremities) effective September 24, 2021.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and inadequate examination reports. The Veteran is advised to provide copies of any Army service treatment records in his possession, as well as outstanding private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for back and bilateral knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in prior examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the evidence does not establish a current disability or link to service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the evidence does not establish a medical nexus between his low back condition and service.