Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee and back disabilities are secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left knee disability, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and left ankle disability due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension. The back disability is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left total knee replacement and right foot metatarsalgia with pes planus. Erectile dysfunction is also secondary to his service-connected disabilities. However, hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his degenerative disc disease, L4-5 and L5-S1, was denied. The Board also found that the criteria for TDIU were met effective September 25, 2015, and SMC at the housebound rate is granted from this date.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for back disability, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, nervousness, right hip and groin disability, and impotence. The issues of service connection have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and right knee disability, finding that additional medical opinions are needed to address whether these conditions are related to her service-connected left knee disability or if they had their onset during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, right hip, and left hip disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions on direct and secondary service connection for low back disability. The Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service symptoms and post-service pain are to be considered, along with VA examination findings.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has decided to remand the case for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal to reopen the claim of service connection for costochondritis is also dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine and right hip conditions due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset during active duty or as a result of a motor vehicle accident in the line of duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disorder is secondary to his service-connected lumbar sprain, bilateral radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and left hip bursitis. The examiner must provide a new opinion addressing proximate causation and aggravation for each of these conditions.

The Veteran's back condition, which includes lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome, has been rated at 20 percent since the appeal period began. The Board found that the evidence did not show forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, ankylosis of the lumbar spine, or incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least four weeks during the past 12 months. Therefore, the claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current back disability. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical records and a new opinion is needed.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral foot disabilities due to lack of compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a dental disability and a back disability, finding no current diagnosis of either condition and insufficient evidence to link them to active service.

The Veteran's status post right inguinal herniorrhaphy with scars is granted a 30 percent rating.,Prior to March 14, 2014, the Veteran's low back benign intradermal inclusion cysts are granted a 20 percent rating. Since March 14, 2014, the Veteran's low back benign intradermal inclusion cysts are granted a 30 percent rating.

The application to reopen the claims for cervical spine disability, bilateral foot disability (to include pes planus), bilateral hearing loss, IBS, and lumbar spine disability is granted.,The applications to reopen the claims for cervical spine disability, bilateral foot disability (to include pes planus), bilateral hearing loss, IBS, and lumbar spine disability are remanded.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected degenerative joint disease lumbar spine. The Board has dismissed the appeal as a result.