Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the cause of death (migraine headaches) is not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease, had its onset during service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the remand directives and thus the claims for service connection of right shoulder, back, and right knee disabilities are being returned to the RO for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for chronic cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, as well as headaches and numbness in the legs. The Veteran's claims were based on his assertions of continuity of symptoms since service.,The VA examiner found no evidence linking the current conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for compound right femur fracture and back disability due to concerns about substantial compliance with previous orders, lack of a complete rationale in the November 2022 opinion, and the need for additional development.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was rated at 20 percent from December 1, 2015 to August 23, 2021.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and treatment records to assess his service-connected low back disability, including any associated bladder impairment or sexual dysfunction.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and temporary total evaluation due to hospital treatment or convalescence for his lumbar spine disorder. The claims are being returned for further development, including a new VA examination.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for back and left knee disabilities due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.,Service connection is granted for a back disability, but the claim for left knee disability remains remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a bilateral knee condition, including as a result of undiagnosed illness; service connection for a disability manifested by joint pain, claimed as polyarthritis, including as the result of undiagnosed illness; and service connection for a low back disorder due to unresolved issues related to medical opinions and whether these conditions qualify as MUCMI.

The Board has denied an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and has remanded the issue of entitlement to compensation for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disability.

The Board has denied service connection for atrophy of the testicles and remanded issues regarding neck and back conditions due to lack of medical evidence addressing their etiology.

The Veteran's attorney has withdrawn the appeal for service connection claims and a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with MDD prior to June 7, 2017. The appeals are dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, service connection for left knee and right shoulder disorders, and HTN have been denied. The appeals are dismissed as the submitted evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidentiary development, including obtaining outstanding relevant records and scheduling a retrospective VA examination of her lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's initial increased rating claim for his service-connected back disability is denied. The case has been remanded to obtain further information regarding the Veteran's employment status and circumstances prior to August 1, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 70 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder, as well as claims for service connection for left knee disorder and low back strain, have been granted. The claim for residuals of traumatic brain injury was denied.

The Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome with spondylolisthesis of lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent, and the left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with it is rated at 20 percent. The appeal for a higher rating for intervertebral disc syndrome with spondylolisthesis of lumbar spine has been denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's spinal disabilities, including degenerative arthritis, IVDS, and spinal stenosis. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if his current conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to obtain medical opinions on whether the Veteran's lumbar spine and left knee conditions are aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.