Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, and his hepatitis C is rated at 20 percent. The appeal for higher ratings remains denied.

The Board has found that the VA examination conducted in December 2019 did not comply with the remand directives and is therefore remanded for another examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected thoracic degenerative disc disease.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the onset and continuity of the Veteran's back disability, as well as the relationship between his service-connected back disability and his claimed neuropathies.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his knee disabilities, including TKA, have been denied. The Board found that the lumbar spine disability was not caused by or related to any in-service injury or disease, nor were the left and right knee disabilities linked to it. The VA examinations did not find a nexus between the Veteran's current back pain and service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran was granted service connection for left knee, low back, and right hip disabilities. The effective date is not earlier than June 24, 2014.,Service connection was established for the Veteran's lumbar spine and bilateral hips due to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for an increased rating for low back strain and TDIU due to conflicting VA examination reports regarding the severity of the Veteran's disability, including during flare-ups and with repeated use over time. The case is being returned for further development.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for service connection for thoracolumbar sprain, allergic rhinitis, and TDIU. The Board dismissed these claims as a result.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as left knee disability, due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's right knee disability is already service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of various disabilities, including a right shoulder disability, bilateral pes planus, TBI, and other conditions were denied as the Veteran failed to appear at scheduled VA examinations.,Service connection claims for back disability, left foot disability, right elbow disability, and chest pain were also denied due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a back disability, left hip disability (secondary to back), depression, and loss of teeth have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of nexus between these conditions and active duty service.,There is no credible evidence linking any current disabilities to service.

The Board denied service connection for left hip, back, left groin, and left foot disabilities due to a lack of current disability at the time of filing or during the pendency of the appeal.,The Veteran's complaints related to these conditions were noted in service but resolved without any residual symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, but denied service connection for a back disability. The decision is based on the evidence showing that the Veteran's OSA began during or was caused by his active service, while there is no credible evidence to support his claim of a back injury during service.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of bilateral lower extremities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the failure of VA to obtain his complete service treatment records and VA treatment records. The Board also directed a VA examination for each issue.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence, including range of motion testing in both active and passive motion and in weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing.

The Veteran's claim for higher initial ratings for his thoracolumbar spine DDD, RLE radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and LLE radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve was denied. The increased rating for RLE radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve as of December 15, 2020, and separate ratings for RLE radiculopathy of the femoral nerve and LLE radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve were granted.

The Veteran's appeal of the initial ratings assigned for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities and lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to inadequate examination reports.,The Veteran's appeal of the initial rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy, PTSD, TDIU prior to September 28, 2021, and SMC at the housebound rate under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) is also being remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of hypertension and back disability for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a left big toe disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran reported injuries during active duty, but VA records do not support these accounts.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been remanded by the Board.,The Veteran is also facing a TDIU claim, which has been remanded as well.