Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient opinions in previous VA examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disorder and right lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar intradural mass lesion and thoracic mass due to lack of evidence in service records, and the need to obtain additional treatment records. The Veteran's tumors are not presumed to be related to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, warranting SMC based on the need for aid and attendance.

Service connection is denied for glaucoma, a right foot condition (claimed as trench foot), a skin condition (claimed as psoriasis), a right hip condition, and left shoulder and low back conditions.,There is no evidence of current diagnoses or service-connected disabilities related to the claimed right foot condition, skin condition, right hip condition, left shoulder condition, or low back condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his low back disorder. The Veteran is not granted service connection for heart and wrist conditions.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left ankle sprain, right and left knee disabilities, lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, and hypertension. The Veteran is required to provide VA with his private treatment records for these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of initial and non-initial ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with spondylolisthesis with osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, as well as a non-initial rating for spondylolisthesis with osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's claims are remanded due to the need for new examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, and left ankle disability. The Veteran's symptoms have been present since separation from service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, including lumbar degenerative arthritis, lumbar disc disease, spondylolisthesis, and lumbar radiculopathy, to include on a secondary basis due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle and right knee disabilities. The issues regarding higher ratings for the right ankle and right knee sprain are remanded.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities from March 6, 2017 to April 3, 2017. The appeal for TDIU from April 3, 2017 is denied as moot by the 100% combined schedular disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the reports of the March 2017 and February 2019 VA examinations, specifically regarding pain on motion testing and functional loss during flare-ups.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 60 percent for his service-connected back disability is denied. The Board also found that the criteria for TDIU prior to March 18, 2014 are met.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and left knee arthritis due to incomplete development and need for new medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran was assigned a 60 percent disability rating for intervertebral disc syndrome with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, effective December 21, 2015.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for clarification on whether the Veteran wishes to continue his appeal of service connection for a back injury, and if so, what specific condition he is seeking to connect to his military service.

Service connection is granted for bilateral knee disorders, lumbar spine disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as due to service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Board also found that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder, hip, and elbow disorders are remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected back disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right great toe hallux valgus. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to a lack of complete SSA records.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for sinusitis was reopened, and he is now entitled to a higher rating for his degenerative changes of the lumbar spine. Ratings were also granted for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve).