Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's disability rating for scarring of the left thumb is granted at a 10 percent level. The Veteran's trigger fingers of the left hand are not entitled to an increased rating. A combined disability rating of 40 percent for his back disability from August 26, 2018 to March 6, 2022 is granted. However, the Veteran's claim for a higher rating after March 7, 2022 is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for lumbar paraspinal tendonitis and bilateral RLS due to incomplete STRs and inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's low back condition is currently rated at 40 percent, effective January 26, 2022. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to this date.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder, lumbosacral strain, bilateral foot xerosis, bilateral shoulder impingement syndrome, right elbow disability manifested by pain, bilateral foot acquired pes planus and plantar fasciitis, left elbow lateral epicondylitis and tendinitis, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left foot acquired pes planus and plantar fasciitis, and erectile dysfunction are all granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on ten issues has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The VA has not taken reasonable efforts to obtain the relevant private treatment records, including MRI results and physical therapy records.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding proposed reductions in ratings for PTSD and a lumbar spine disability because no final decision had been made by the AOJ.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of July 16, 2020 for a 40 percent rating for his low back disability. The Board found that there was no medical evidence showing a factually ascertainable increase in symptoms prior to this date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantial gainful employment, consistent with his training and experience as an over-the-road truck driver.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service connection for anxiety and hypertension is granted. However, the rating for hypertension remains denied, and a remand is ordered to determine the appropriate rating for his lumbar spine condition.

The Veteran seeks an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for his lumbar spine disability, which was granted effective December 10, 2019. The Board also remanded the issues regarding radiculopathy ratings.,The Veteran's radiculopathy (femoral nerve) has been service-connected since December 10, 2019, but his claim for earlier effective dates remains pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral shin splints and a low back disorder. The claim for an upper back disorder is remanded, as well as the TDIU issue.

The Veteran's application to revise the September 1997 rating decision based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) for a compensable rating for tinnitus was denied. The appeal is also denied regarding service connection, increased ratings, earlier effective dates, and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right shoulder, and left shoulder.

The Veteran's initial ratings for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted at 50%, 40%, and 40% respectively.

The Board denied service connection for Parkinson's Disease, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a lumbar spine disability on an accrued basis due to the lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected condition.

Service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a neurological disability of the right arm is denied.,The Veteran's claims for residuals of left biceps rupture and scars associated with the left biceps rupture are remanded.