Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that additional evidence was added to the record since the last decision and must be considered by the AOJ. The claims for increased ratings for a right hip scar, an increased rating for a right ankle disability, and service connection for a lower back disability are being remanded for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an effective date of January 10, 2007, for the grant of service connection for PTSD.,However, the issue regarding a higher rating for PTSD prior to June 25, 2019, is being remanded.

The Veteran's left ankle sprain, osteoarthritis, and right ankle sprain are granted service connection as they were caused by his service-connected left foot disability. The low back disability is denied as it did not begin during active duty or within one year of separation from a period of active duty for training.

The Veteran's claims for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for lumbosacral strain and a combined disability rating higher than 30 percent are remanded due to the AOJ not substantially complying with the Board's instructions.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his back disability and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling an appropriate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and issues regarding an earlier effective date for a disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claims of increased ratings and service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and left knee, right knee degenerative arthritis have been rated at 20 percent and 10 percent respectively. The Board found no evidence to warrant increased ratings under the applicable criteria.,The Veteran reported constant pain in his knees with flare-ups that limit activities of daily living.

The Veteran's left eye disability is rated at 30 percent prior to September 7, 2017, and 50 percent thereafter. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 60 percent.,Both conditions are rated based on their direct service connection without any presumption or secondary theory of service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar scoliosis with lumbar strain was restored to a 20 percent rating effective January 1, 2017.,Since March 16, 2017, the Veteran received an additional 10 percent rating for radiculopathy of the left leg associated with his lumbar spine disability.

Your appeals for increased ratings for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities have been dismissed due to your withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions to determine if the Veteran's left knee, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disorders are related to his military service.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and has remanded the issue of entitlement to TDIU based on this disability. The case is now before the Board again, with additional development needed.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of lumbar spine disorder, right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve disorders due to their grant in prior rating decisions. The Board also granted increased ratings for right and left knee instability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, left ankle recurrent sprain, TBI, and headaches were denied. The claim to reopen service connection for low back disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and right ankle disorder was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for neck, back, right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for consideration on an extraschedular basis due to the lack of schedular criteria prior to December 17, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain an addendum opinion from an orthopedist regarding whether his low back disability is at least as likely as not secondary to his service-connected bilateral foot and ankle disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral elbow disability and remanded the issue of service connection for a lumbar spine disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's lay statements regarding his military activities are considered, but further examination is required to determine if his current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for asthma and low back condition due to insufficient development of evidence regarding the etiology of these conditions.