Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records from the Veteran's outside rheumatologist and internal medicine specialist. The VA must obtain these records and add them to the claims file before readjudicating the service connection claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and that any current condition is not related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and a right shoulder disorder, finding that the Veteran's current disorders are not related to his active-duty service.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis for his service-connected lumbar spine disability, effective March 9, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case for a determination on an earlier effective date and increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disability. The issues include resolving the Veteran's disagreement with his assigned effective date, as well as addressing his claim for an increase in his disability rating.

The Board has granted an initial 70 percent disability rating for major depressive disorder. The low back disability issue is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability began during his military service and is related to it, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's sciatic nerve neuralgia of the right lower extremity was restored to a 10 percent rating since July 1, 2018.,A higher disability rating for the low back disability is denied.,Prior to July 1, 2018, a higher disability rating for the sciatic nerve neuralgia of the left lower extremity was not granted.,Since July 1, 2018, a higher disability rating for the sciatic nerve neuralgia of the right lower extremity is denied.

The Board denied service connection for low back, left foot, right foot, and left wrist disabilities. The Veteran's right wrist disability was also denied as secondary to a service-connected scar.,Service connection was not established for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's levoconvex scoliosis of lumbar spine with secondary low back strain as of October 15, 2020. The claim was denied prior to this date due to insufficient evidence supporting an increased rating.

The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to his service-connected disabilities is established, leading to the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for a skin condition, and service connection for a lower back condition are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar strain prior to July 6, 2022 has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives and requires further development.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for a back disability due to additional development, including obtaining an updated VA examination and opinion.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected due to in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is granted as service-connected due to an in-service injury during active duty.,The Veteran's bilateral foot numbness secondary to lumbar spine disability is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's skin disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current condition related to his military service.,The Veteran's respiratory disability is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to insufficient medical evidence of record and a need for a combined-effects medical examination. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include major depressive disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, gout, lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome, left sciatic nerve impingement, right sciatic nerve impingement, hypertension, tinnitus, left upper lip scar, right thigh scar, left posterior thorax scar, and bilateral tinea pedis. The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded to allow for a proper examination and evaluation of his employment impact.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, bilateral knee disability, and respiratory airway disease (COPD).

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis as secondary to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee and low back disabilities, finding that these conditions were aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.