Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for his left hip and lumbar spine conditions as secondary to his service-connected left knee condition.

The Veteran's low back disability and associated radiculopathy were rated at 40 percent prior to December 10, 2016. The Board found no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or qualifying incapacitating episodes.,A higher rating for the period prior to December 10, 2016, is denied.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate to determine the severity of the Veteran's spine disability during flare-ups, as well as the etiology of his right knee degenerative arthritis. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, lumbar spine, left ankle, and right ankle disorders due to incomplete examination results. The Veteran will need to reschedule his examinations or telehealth interviews.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD and related conditions are currently rated based on their service-connected status. The Board has found that the evidence is in approximate balance regarding his PTSD, warranting a 70% disability rating prior to December 5, 2019, but not higher. Other issues remain remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include frostbite, low back disability, asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disorder, finding that his pre-existing neck disorder was not aggravated by service and is not related to his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 10 percent prior to March 28, 2022 and 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran's left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated at 10 percent.,The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome and right knee patellofemoral syndrome are both currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea was proximately caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability and/or radiculopathy of the right and left extremities, as well as whether his obesity was a substantial factor in causing the condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA has been granted, and he is also granted increased ratings for his TMJ dysfunction, cervical strain, left shoulder impingement syndrome, and lumbar spine strain.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but has remanded the issue of service connection for a low back condition due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete examination findings and requests for additional records. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, but he asserts a need for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions provided in previous examinations. The case is now returned to the Board for further consideration.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum medical opinion clarifying the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability and addressing whether it is related to his first period of active duty service or if it was aggravated during his second period of service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequacies in medical opinions and missing records. The Veteran's current lumbar spine disability with radiculopathy is being requested to be examined again to determine if it was incurred as a result of a fall from a horse in service in 1982.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of evidence and further development is needed. The Veteran's lay statements suggest a possible secondary relationship between his service-connected left knee condition and his current lumbosacral strain and sciatica.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and a cervical spine condition secondary to her low back injury due to failure to appear for VA examinations. The Veteran is advised that she must report for these examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his severe back pain and PTSD, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The petition to reopen entitlement to service connection for a left ankle condition and a back condition is granted.,Entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee conditions, hearing loss, social anxiety disorder, right and left ankle conditions, a back condition, a bilateral lower extremity vascular condition, and tinnitus is denied.