Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and restless leg syndrome were denied. The Veteran was granted a 10% rating for tinnitus, but his sleep apnea remains at the 50% level. Other conditions remain denied.

The Board has granted a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's chronic lumbar sprain with degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis, effective from January 25, 2016. Service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine disability is denied.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and gout have been granted service connection.,A rating of 20 percent for left ankle sprain has been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for cervicalgia as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and assigned a 10 percent rating. The claim for increased ratings for thoracic and lumbar spine disabilities is also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is granted a 40% rating, effective September 10, 2012. Service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy is also granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions from VA medical professionals. The Veteran's low back disability and radiculopathy are currently diagnosed, but there is insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee condition and a lumbar spine condition, both of which are determined to have begun during the Veteran's active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable or unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating greater than 10 percent for his low back strain due to conflicting medical evidence and lack of adequate retrospective opinions.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20% prior to October 22, 2022 and 40% thereafter. The claims for increased ratings are denied.,The Veteran's right and left lower extremity femoral radiculopathy have been rated at 10%. The claims for increased ratings are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee, foot, shoulder, and back disabilities due to incomplete adjudication of his claims. The AOJ is required to provide a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) addressing these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss are granted. The claims for low white blood count, left leg disorder, right leg disorder, residuals of ear surgery, and seizure disorder are withdrawn.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine, left hip, and right hip disorders are not service-connected. The issues of service connection for bilateral hip disorders secondary to a lumbar spine disorder have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including recurrent lumbar strain, sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, femoral radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and left knee strain, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment for one year prior to January 14, 2016. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for this period.

The Board has remanded three issues: right knee disability, low back disability, and carcinoid tumor/well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor of the appendix. The Veteran's service connection claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives and the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient development and consideration of his medical history, including VA treatment records. The claims will be reconsidered with additional opinions from appropriate clinicians.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's diagnosed back, right shoulder, and leg disorders are related to his military service. The VA needs to procure an addendum opinion from a medical professional.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the appellant's thoracolumbar disability. The claim will be further developed with an addendum medical opinion.