Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Veteran's claim for restoration of a 20 percent rating for his lumbar spine disability is granted. The claims for increased ratings for right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy are remanded, as is the TDIU claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a foot disability and a lumbar spine disability, finding that there is not sufficient competent or credible evidence to establish these conditions as being related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as it is at least as likely as not related to his in-service stressor.,Bilateral hearing loss is denied as the evidence does not show a current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board has denied a higher rating for the appellant's service-connected lumbar spine disability prior to May 4, 2021 and from May 4, 2021. The issues of service connection for left arm disability, hypertension, heart disorder, and TDIU are remanded due to need for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and left lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims regarding financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grants due to incomplete medical records and unclear extent of service-connected conditions affecting mobility.

An initial 10 percent evaluation, but no higher, for fecal incontinence is granted.,An initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims of service connection for liver disease and back condition, finding that new and material evidence had not been received.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for HSV, lumbar condition, right foot condition, and right forearm condition due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The effective dates for these claims are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's entitlement to a TDIU was denied for the period from December 11, 2012 to April 1, 2014 and granted for the period from April 2, 2014 to January 25, 2016. The issue of TDIU beginning January 26, 2016 is dismissed due to the Veteran's 100% disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with spondylosis of the lumbar spine and denied service connection for a left elbow disability. The Veteran's back condition is considered to have originated during his period of active duty training (ADT), while his left elbow enthesitis is not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back disability, left knee disability, and right ankle disability were denied. The claim for a separate rating for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity (sciatic nerve) was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, bilateral pes planus, and spinal condition with radiculopathy are found to be etiologically related to his obstructive sleep apnea. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran's back disability is being remanded for further evaluation due to the difficulty in obtaining a retrospective opinion covering nearly fifty years of service. The TDIU issue is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a lower back condition due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling an examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Right Knee Disability, Low Back Disability, and Right Hip Disability secondary to a service-connected left knee disability due to insufficient reasons or bases provided in previous decisions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left eye disability, finding that his pre-existing condition did not undergo an increase in disability beyond its natural progression during active duty. The claims for secondary service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities as related to bilateral pes planus, and for PTSD and headache disorder are remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA did not substantially comply with its remand directives and requires further development for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various orthopedic disabilities, including bilateral eye disorders.