Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for a back condition and left hip pain, finding that these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right hip disability. Service connection for depressive disorder was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability and whether it is related to service. A VA examination is needed to address these issues.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, left ankle disability, scars (left ankle), and tinnitus as the evidence did not establish that these conditions began during active service or were otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,While the Veteran reported symptoms of each condition since service, the medical records do not support a nexus between his current diagnoses and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, and depression was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to April 19, 2019, as he was found to be employed full-time and not unemployable.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board has granted a higher rating. The other issues have been resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. §1151 due to inadequate medical opinions in previous decisions.

The Veteran's cervical strain and lumbar strain have been granted increased ratings, while other conditions remain at their current levels or are denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a back condition and obstructive sleep apnea have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had in-service injuries leading to his current conditions, and provided competent medical evidence supporting these findings.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and a need for a new VA examination for PTSD. The issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine IVDS and DDD, and entitlement to a higher rating for PTSD are pending.

The Board denied service connection for hyperlipidemia, benign prostatic hypertrophy, arterial hypertension, bilateral cataracts, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), low back disability, and osteoarthritis as the persuasive evidence did not show a relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations, treatment records, and consideration of functional loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examination reports, and a new medical opinion is needed to address the appropriate standard for claims of service connection based on aggravation.

From December 30, 2019 to September 28, 2022, the Veteran's low back disability and sciatic radiculopathy of both lower extremities were granted increased ratings.,Prior to December 30, 2019, the Veteran's low back disability was not rated higher than 20 percent.

The Board has granted a TDIU from February 20, 2002 to August 4, 2003 on an extraschedular basis and a TDIU from August 5, 2003 on a schedular basis. The Veteran's service-connected back disorder rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to incomplete records and issues with the evaluation of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD, but these claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip disability, left hip disability, back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board has denied the petitions to reopen previously denied claims of service connection for an eye disorder, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, and cervical spine spondylosis. The Veteran's contentions that his conditions are related to service have not been substantiated by new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not constitute an employment handicap, and he is gainfully employed in a suitable position. Therefore, VR&E benefits are denied.