Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability and frostbite of the feet have been remanded for further evaluation.,Service connection for left rotator cuff tear, residual fracture of the sternum, and residuals of broken fingers are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a lumbar spine disability and right shoulder disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The VA is instructed to obtain STRs, conduct additional examinations, and provide addendum opinions.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 19, 2019. The case is being remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that there is a question regarding the credibility of the Veteran's statements about continuous back pain after service. The case is being remanded for an addendum opinion from another examiner to determine if the Veteran's current back disability had its onset in or is otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has found that the July 2023 VA examination is inadequate and remands the case for a new evaluation to determine if the Veteran's low back disability was incurred in or related to his active-duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion from a June 2021 VA examiner regarding the Veteran's back disability. The case is now being sent back for further evaluation and consideration.

The Veteran's neck and shoulder disabilities are related to his active service, resulting in a grant of service connection.,For the period prior to December 30, 2019, the Veteran's asthma did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's right hand disability is granted as service-connected.,There is no evidence of a current rib, ankle, or shin splint disability that can be linked to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and back conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pedal edema, right hip trochanteric bursitis, and thoracolumbar spine arthritis due to his failure to report for necessary VA examinations.

An effective date of December 9, 1980, for service connection of a back disability is granted.,An effective date prior to October 10, 2012, for service connection of depression is denied.,Prior to September 18, 2014, an initial rating of 50 percent for depression is granted. Since September 18, 2014, a higher rating is denied.,Since June 10, 2014, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and TDIU benefits are granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spine and knee conditions, prevented him from maintaining gainful employment effective from July 29, 2018.

The claim for service connection of low back and neck disorders is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for recurrent knee, lumbar spine, and hip disabilities due to inadequate examinations and the need for further development.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective July 19, 2023. The rating is denied for a higher rating prior to that date.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine strain and right ankle sprain ratings have been reduced, but the reductions are being overturned due to lack of improvement in function under ordinary conditions.,Higher ratings for these disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable since February 5, 2023. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date. However, the issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right leg shortening and to a TDIU prior to February 5, 2023 are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back condition as secondary to his service-connected left hip strain with limitation of flexion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, lower back, cervical, right ankle, and left ankle disorders are remanded due to insufficient evidence of a current disability during the appeal period.

Service connection is granted for post-traumatic osteoarthritis with degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, right lower extremity femoral and sciatic radiculopathy, left lower extremity femoral and sciatic radiculopathy, and a left ankle chronic/recurrent lateral collateral ligament sprain.,The Veteran's service connection claims for left knee disability are remanded due to incomplete service personnel records.