Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and back conditions, as well as sciatic nerve conditions of the lower extremities, are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for dizziness condition/vertigo, low back disorder, left leg/shin disability, right knee disorder, and right shoulder disorder are all granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder is remanded. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, to include a right trapezoid disorder, is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 10 percent for a right knee strain and service connection for an upper back disability have been denied due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's initial claim for a low back disability was granted with a 10% rating effective February 4, 2013. The RO later increased the rating to 40% effective November 3, 2022.,The Board denied both requests for higher ratings in June 2020 and again in May 2022.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The lumbar spine disability was rated at 40 percent, with no ankylosis noted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine, cervical spine, left knee, right knee, left hip, right hip, left ankle, and duodenitis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to insufficient evidence of current severity, lack of a direct service connection opinion, and the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions provided in previous examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including back pain, internal injuries, urinary leakage, bilateral hand cramps, bilateral leg cramps, and bilateral foot cramps, all of which he contends are related to a motor vehicle accident during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date for certain benefits were denied. The case was remanded for further development.,For the lumbosacral strain, a rating in excess of 20 percent is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to service, and granted service connection for it. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, a back disability, and sleep apnea are remanded for further development.

Service connection is granted for low back disorder. The Veteran's left hand disorder, right knee disability, and Dequervain's syndrome of the right wrist are all remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the competence of the VA examiner who provided an October 2022 opinion. The Veteran's representative challenged the qualifications of this examiner, and the appeal must be returned for further action.

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records and complete a VA Form 21-4142 for non-VA medical providers. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an initial schedular rating in excess of 10 percent for his back disability is currently pending.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as major depressive disorder, is granted.,The Veteran's bilateral hip trochanteric bursitis and gout are granted.,The Veteran's right hand disability, back disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral foot disability are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's left leg scar is remanded.

Your claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder has been fully granted in a January 2023 rating decision.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for a VA examination due to concerns about the accuracy of the previous examination report, specifically regarding the use of a goniometer.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, with a current numeric designation of Level III.,Service connection for right knee pain and left knee pain is denied due to lack of in-service injury or disease and no persuasive evidence linking the disabilities to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, and the Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Veteran's sinus disability is granted, and he receives an initial noncompensable disability rating for his bilateral varicocele. His claims for joint pain, throat condition, back disability, irritable bowel syndrome, and posttraumatic stress disorder with traumatic brain injury residuals of tension headaches and vertigo are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a back condition due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinion regarding the onset and continuity of his symptoms during service. The case is sent back for an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.