Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder (back disorder) due to an inadequate examination and opinion. The Veteran's assertions are that her back condition is related to a car accident in 1994, but the VA examiner did not consider this information.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional review due to the receipt of new VA clinical documentation. The Veteran was not provided an opportunity to waive initial review, and thus the case must be returned to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for readjudication.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.,No effective dates were assigned as the issues do not involve service connection.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis and lumbar arthralgia are being remanded for additional development. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of lumbar degenerative disc disease, vision disorder, and hand tremors due to additional VA medical records not yet addressed in a rating decision or SSOC.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his spinal fusion with lumbar spondylolisthesis and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a stomach disability is denied. The Veteran's lumbar strain and right lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated at 10 percent, with no higher ratings granted. A 10 percent rating is granted for left lower extremity radiculopathy from November 10, 2020.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is granted a 40% rating, effective April 30, 2012. Other service-connected disabilities are denied or remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right shoulder disability, service connection for a back disorder, and TDIU due to additional relevant evidence received since the last decision.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted a 40% rating for the period prior to November 6, 2019. For the entire period on appeal, a higher rating than 40% is denied. From July 8, 2021 onwards, entitlement to TDIU is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one must be obtained.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including degenerative disc disease, finding that it is related to active duty service and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU for the period from February 16, 2011, to March 16, 2015. The claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spine disability is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and remanded the issues of service connection for eye impairment and left wrist impairment.

The Board has dismissed all claims as the appellant died during the appeal process.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether it is related to the Veteran's in-service injury.

The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from September 30, 2016 to October 28, 2020 due to service-connected disabilities preventing the Veteran from securing and following substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for back disability, left hip degenerative arthritis, and right hip degenerative arthritis due to lack of adequate VA examination. The TDIU claim from December 1, 2017, is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for right lower extremity radiculopathy with sciatic nerve involvement and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with IVDS and spinal stenosis prior to August 23, 2022. These matters must be addressed by the AOJ in a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including psychiatric disorders, hip disabilities, shoulder and knee disabilities, ankle disabilities, foot disabilities, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of upper and lower extremities, and sleep apnea due to lack of current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to the appellant's military service.