Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's sinusitis with headaches is currently rated at 50 percent effective December 6, 2022. The Board has remanded the issue of an increased rating for this condition.,For the lumbar spine disability, the Veteran was previously granted a 20% rating prior to January 7, 2014, and denied any higher ratings thereafter. The Board has also remanded this issue.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 40 percent from November 17, 2020. The Board has remanded the issue of an increased rating for this condition.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability. The case is remanded for further development, including scheduling an examination closer to the Veteran's residence.

The Board denied increased ratings for lumbar strain with IVDS, RLE and LLE radiculopathy, sciatic, RLE and LLE radiculopathy, femoral. The evidence did not show the Veteran's conditions were manifested by greater than moderate symptoms or intensity.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including rating determinations and service connection for various conditions. The case is returned to the AOJ for initial review of new evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that there is no credible evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss and has remanded his claims for higher ratings for low back disability, associated lumbar radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and other issues related to his low back.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease, finding that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced regarding whether it is related to active service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection of lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, and tinnitus. The Board found that there is sufficient evidence to support these claims as they are related to service.

The Board has remanded three issues related to increased ratings for various knee and cervical spine conditions due to the submission of new evidence since the last Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is now rated at 40 percent effective from February 1, 2019. The rating reflects a significant improvement in his condition since August 16, 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for a back condition, finding that the Veteran's current back condition is related to his in-service injuries and granting the claim after resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and providing an addendum opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's residuals of stroke(s).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of his lumbar spine disability, right hip disorder, and left hip disorder due to inadequate medical opinions in previous decisions.

Your appeals for service connection regarding latent tuberculosis infection, obstructive sleep apnea, and back disability have been dismissed as they are legacy appeals under the old system. The Board does not have jurisdiction to review these issues.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's neck, back, hip, and thigh disabilities, as well as his depressive disorder. The remand requests additional examinations and opinions to address functional impairment and historical severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for his service-connected cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and consideration of all relevant evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a lack of recent Fort Bragg medical records and for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are service-connected and granted.,Degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine with degenerative disc disease and disc extrusions is not rated higher than 40 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for chronic low back strain and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The issues have been remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for a new orthopedic examination.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of thoracolumbar spine, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right upper extremity, and eczema of bilateral ears. The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted a rating of 30% effective May 8, 2014.