Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service connection claims for thoracolumbar spine, right and left knee, and right and left ankle disabilities are being remanded due to errors in duty to assist.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and a need for additional examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various eye, back, knee, hand, and foot conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and chondromalacia patella of the right knee due to insufficient examination reports and incomplete development of records.

The Board has granted service connection for a lower back disability and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The decision is based on secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is granted with a disability rating of 50 percent effective from April 26, 2016.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for other conditions (vertebral fracture and lumbar discectomy, cervical strain, IBS, and bilateral hearing loss) are denied as they were not received within one year after separation from service or earlier.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided in this case was inadequate and remands the matter for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is related to his service.

Your appeal for service connection regarding left knee condition, right knee condition, and back condition has been dismissed as the appellant requested to withdraw the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disc herniation and degenerative changes, as well as right lower extremity sciatic nerve disorder, left lower extremity sciatic nerve disorder, right lower extremity inguinal nerve disorder, and left lower extremity inguinal nerve disorder. The conditions are found to be related to the Veteran's service-connected low back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and right hip strain as due to the Veteran's service-connected right knee osteoarthritis with meniscectomy residuals and status post knee replacement. The Veteran was previously denied increased ratings for his right knee disability, but these claims are now remanded.

The veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating for his back disability, and the Board dismissed the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's chronic lumbar spine disability. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's current condition was caused or aggravated by her service-connected disabilities, including bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, neck injury with traumatic arthritis, right ankle fracture, and right foot 5th metatarsal fracture.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral eye condition and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, while remanding multiple other claims related to various disabilities.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability as of December 16, 2019, and separate 10 percent ratings for right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy associated with the back disability.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of his thoracolumbar spine disability with degenerative disc disease (DDD) is being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and retrospective opinions regarding passive range of motion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left lower extremity radiculopathy and lumbar disorders due to incomplete compliance with prior directives. Additional development is needed, including obtaining private treatment records and VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine and low back disabilities, including as secondary to bilateral knee disabilities. The case is being returned due to a failure to comply with prior remand orders regarding obtaining records from Andrews Air Force Base.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent since September 25, 2007. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and lack of information regarding the Veteran's employment history, which is necessary for a proper determination of his eligibility for TDIU.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has ordered a remand to determine if it warrants an increased rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence. The issues are now remanded for further development, including VA examinations.