Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

Your claim for service connection for a low back disability has been resolved in your favor, and the Board is dismissing this issue as there is no longer a case in controversy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and conflicting statements about in-service symptoms. The claims will be addressed again with additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment from February 1, 2018 to July 27, 2021. The Board granted a TDIU during this period.

The Veteran's lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis is granted a 20 percent disability evaluation effective October 20, 2022.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence for assessing staged ratings and a need for further examination.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected thoracic and lumbar strain with facet joint arthritis, finding that the evidence did not show functional limitations equivalent to forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine 30 degrees or less, or favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate examination reports. The claims include right shoulder Bankart repair, lumbar spine spondylosis, sciatic nerve impairment radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, femoral nerve impairment radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and residual scar of dorsal column stimulator.

The Board has determined that further evaluations are needed for the Veteran's hip, lumbosacral spine, left knee, and tinea corporis disabilities due to incomplete examination reports. The claims of service connection for right and left hip disabilities, increased rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, increased ratings for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and instability, and a compensable rating for tinea corporis are being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for a low back disorder is being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining retrospective opinions on the severity of the disability throughout the period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder and back disabilities due to a lack of service medical records. The Board found clear and unmistakable evidence that the Veteran had pre-existing left shoulder and back disabilities, but needs further clarification on whether these conditions were aggravated during service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder. The claim will be reviewed again with additional evidence and a new medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease, but the claim for TDIU is remanded due to lack of information from the Veteran's employer.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right knee degenerative joint disease, and left knee degenerative joint disease were denied.,Effective July 26, 2022, the Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease was denied.

The Veteran's low back disability is being remanded for a new examination to assess the current severity of his condition due to evidence suggesting worsening and material changes since the last VA examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and rating issues related to erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, sleep disturbances, a disability characterized by elevated bilirubin, and higher ratings for left knee patellofemoral syndrome, left knee scar, and lumbar spine arthritis. The appeal for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete service treatment records and requests for further development, including obtaining additional STRs from Salerno, Afghanistan in 2012.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding reductions in disability evaluations and denials of higher evaluations for lumbosacral spondylosis, DDD of the lumbar spine, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to potential Gulf War exposure, and a new VA examination is needed to determine if his symptoms are related to active service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions due to inadequate previous examinations and failure to address the Veteran's lay statements regarding his treatment during service.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is currently rated at 10 percent, but a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's degenerative joint and disc disease of the cervical spine is currently rated at 10 percent, and no higher rating is warranted.,The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 10 percent, and no higher rating is warranted.