Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, right hip strain, and radiculopathies. The Veteran needs to be provided with a VA examination to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings are being remanded due to the need to obtain outstanding TRICARE records.

The Board has denied service connection for a low back disability and remanded the issue of secondary service connection for a heart condition. The case is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional development regarding range of motion findings.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent from April 1, 2015. The claim for an increased rating remains on appeal.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve was granted a separate 10 percent rating effective January 31, 2022.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to inadequate prior VA examination opinions. A new retrospective opinion is needed from a different examiner, preferably a physician, addressing the severity of his lumbar spine disability during the period from March 2006 to January 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's current disability is related to his active military service. The evidence shows a diagnosis of lumbosacral strain in March 2020 and credible reports of back symptoms during service and since separation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder and remanded it for further adjudication. The appeal is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, DDD of the lumbar spine, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to now service-connected DDD of the lumbar spine.,Reasons: The Veteran's claims were based on direct evidence of in-service injury or disease. Service connection was granted due to the Veteran's credible lay statements regarding his symptoms and the VA examiners' opinions supporting a link between his current conditions and service.

The Board has decided that further development is needed for the Veteran's claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction (ED), as it may be related to his service-connected conditions. The case is being remanded for a medical examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted. Service connection was also established for major depressive disorder, persistent depressive disorder, and trauma-related disorder. The Veteran's back disability is now rated at 40 percent from January 24, 2022.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left foot condition is denied as the disability does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.,The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of bilateral knee and low back disabilities due to insufficient opinions addressing all potential theories of service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of April 16, 2009, and the Board granted a TDIU effective that date.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for her degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is remanded due to inadequate examination findings regarding flare-ups and range of motion.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a TDIU prior to October 9, 2019, before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with its previous remand directives, specifically regarding the Veteran's lay statements about his back injury.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for various musculoskeletal disorders, as well as an eye disorder. The initial ratings for foot disabilities are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right hand, left hand, low back, toe (right foot), shin splints (left leg) and shin splints (right leg) disabilities due to inadequate examinations in 2017. The Veteran is requested to provide any private medical records related to his claimed conditions.

An initial 30 percent rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis is granted from March 3, 2013.,A 40 percent rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with IVDS is granted from July 26, 2013.,The claim for an increased rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome with arthritis and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity are being remanded due to inadequate examinations and inaccuracies in the medical records.