Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his low back disability and radiculopathy of the lower extremities. The Veteran will be scheduled for additional examinations to address the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right hip osteoarthritis, left knee degenerative joint disease, left knee instability, and right knee osteoarthritis, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted entitlement to a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to the need for a DRO hearing.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and heart problems. The issues of service connection for a psychiatric disability, erectile dysfunction, and low back disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for a lumbar spine disability due to incomplete VA examination and lack of Federal treatment records. The Veteran is represented by American Legion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her cervical spine degenerative disc disease (DDD), finding that she did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (schizoaffective disorder) and remanded the issues of service connection for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine; bilateral arthralgias of the heels and ankles; and diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for dizziness and low back disorder due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's former spouse reported witnessing his pain, and there is conflicting evidence about when he first experienced lower back pain.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back disability, skin disability (tinea corpus), and sleep apnea due to potential service connection issues. The Veteran's assertions regarding in-service events and exposure are considered, along with VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the claims.,Service connection has not been established for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board granted service connection for fibromyalgia and low back disability, but dismissed the claim for left knee disability due to a full grant of benefits.

The Board denied service connection for various hip, ankle, foot, and back disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service. The claims were based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are also denied.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been reopened and service connection is granted.,The Veteran's claims for lumbar spine, left knee, right knee, left foot plantar fasciitis, and cervical spine disabilities have been remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected right knee and left ankle disabilities aggravated his lumbar spine DDD and DJD.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's low back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy, but granted separate ratings for right lower extremity radiculopathy. The effective dates were not addressed in this decision.

The Board denied service connection for low back and left leg disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete examination reports. The issues include secondary service connection for lower back, right hip, left hip, and left knee disorders.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of service connection for a right ankle disorder was granted. Service connection for erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, and neurological disorders were also granted. The rating for back disability is set at 20 percent effective April 11, 2009.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot, left foot, and low back disabilities due to a lack of medical evidence regarding these conditions. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine if his current disabilities are related to his military service.