Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is not due to his military service, including an in-service skiing injury. The claim for left hip disability remains pending and requires further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a neck disability and trapezius strain due to incomplete development of the record, including lack of consideration of recent medical findings and treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating greater than 20 percent prior to June 22, 2017, and greater than 40 percent thereafter, for a back disability; entitlement to a compensable disability rating prior to June 4, 2021, and greater than 10 percent thereafter, for right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy; entitlement to a compensable disability rating prior to June 4, 2021, a rating greater than 10 percent from that date to October 21, 2021, and greater than 20 percent thereafter, for left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy; entitlement to a disability rating greater than 10 percent prior to June 22, 2017, and greater than 20 percent thereafter for right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy; entitlement to a disability rating greater than 20 percent prior to September 18, 2015, and greater than 40 percent thereafter, for left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy; and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to September 18, 2015. The claims are remanded due to inadequate development of the Veteran's back disability and lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, left and right foot conditions, bilateral shoulder condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims will be further developed to obtain legible service records and determine the nature and etiology of her claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is granted with an effective date of August 2, 2005. The decision also notes that the criteria for this grant have been met based on her service-connected back and bilateral hip conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted service connection. The respiratory disability claim is denied, but the low back, right hip, bilateral knee, and right foot disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment from October 9, 2012, to October 29, 2015.

The Board has dismissed all claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to issues with scheduling examinations. The Veteran's neck and back disorders, as well as a disorder manifesting chest pains, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing, are being reviewed again.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed back and eye disabilities. The claims are not currently in dispute as service connection for PTSD, eye condition/injury, and back injury have already been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and deficient VA examination opinions. The case will be returned to ensure all necessary records are obtained and proper examinations conducted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that the evidence is in approximate balance as to whether the condition began during active service and has been continuous since then.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including determining if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's back disability is related to service. The Veteran reported a fall during ACDUTRA and a diagnosis of back pain at Children's Hospital Medical Center.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected psychiatric disorder, cervical spine disability, and thoracolumbar spine disability. The issues are also inextricably intertwined with a claim of service connection for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a low back disability and right foot degenerative joint disease due to insufficient development.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar, cervical spine, and bilateral hip degenerative arthritis as the evidence did not show a chronic disease or injury during service that caused current disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine was denied. The claims for 20 percent ratings for radiculopathy right and left lower extremities prior to July 21, 2022 were granted.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to February 15, 2020 remains pending as the Board has remanded it.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hand arthritis, low back disability, and right knee disability have been denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for bilateral hand arthritis. Service connection was not established for the low back or right knee disabilities as they were not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected conditions, including PTSD, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, migraine headaches, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, left knee instability, left knee degenerative arthritis status post patella femoral ligament repair, right knee disability, sinusitis, rhinitis, and erectile dysfunction. The appeal is remanded for further development.