Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's IBS symptoms have been rated at 30% since September 24, 2015. The Board has also remanded the claims for service connection for hysterectomy, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and lumbar disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging new VA examinations. The Veteran will be provided a supplemental statement of the case after these actions are completed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disease of the cervical spine and lumbosacral strain due to outstanding private treatment records and an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of his current conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine strain, cervical spine strain, and left ankle strain due to insufficient examination reports. The Veteran testified about flare-ups of his conditions but the examiners did not account for this in their assessments.

The Veteran's back disability was previously rated at 20 percent prior to September 8, 2021. From September 8, 2021 forward, a 40 percent rating is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine condition, but denied service connection for all other claimed conditions.,The Veteran's current lumbar spine condition is considered to be related to his active-duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disability, low back disability other than lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, and stomach disability other than chronic constipation and hemorrhoids.,There is no evidence of record showing that any of these conditions began during or are otherwise related to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for lower back, left knee, and right knee disabilities. The evidence supports the Veteran's claims of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disorders, low back disorder, and scars have been remanded due to substantial worsening of symptoms. Additional examinations are needed to determine the current extent and severity of these disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that his current back pain is related to an in-service injury and resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of his disabilities of the low back, left knee, and right knee due to medical questions remaining and the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and disability ratings for various conditions, including low back condition, right tibia fracture residuals, bilateral hearing loss, liver disease, headaches, PTSD, TDIU, IBS, and an effective date for IBS. The remand includes obtaining reserve records, psychiatric examination reports, and sending a copy of the July 2016 Statement of the Case to the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional examinations and opinions to determine if the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his service, including any in-service injuries.

The appeal of the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, low back disability, headaches, left hand and index finger disability, bilateral foot disability, and PTSD is dismissed. The issues of service connection for a low back disability, headaches, left hand and index finger disability, and bilateral foot disability are remanded.

The Veteran's back disability is granted a 20 percent rating effective November 26, 2019. The right shoulder and right knee disabilities are denied higher ratings. Bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. A TDIU determination has been granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for lower back disability and left and right wrist disabilities. The case is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for lower back pain, right knee pain, and left knee pain due to incomplete records from the Veteran's active service. The VA will need to search all relevant record repositories and obtain any available STRs.

The Board has dismissed the claim for nonservice-connected pension from July 8, 2019 and after as moot due to the Veteran's service-connected disability rating. The claim is remanded for additional development regarding pension prior to July 8, 2019.