Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current lower back condition is related to service. The claim will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is rated at 40 percent from June 1, 2022.,Service connection for degenerative disc disease (cervical DDD) is granted.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral heavy/painful legs, type II diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, lumbar strain (back condition), gastric neoplasm/ulcer (stomach cancer), and a chronic multi-symptom illness are being readjudicated due to the submission of new and relevant evidence.

The Veteran's right ear condition with dizziness is granted service connection. The claims for left ear, heart, chest pain, prostate, stomach, neck, back, hip, ankle, and foot conditions are denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that an evaluation in excess of this rating is not warranted based on the evidence provided.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including additional VA examinations to assess the current severity of the service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for degenerative disc disease and radiculopathy of the lower extremities are being remanded due to a lack of sufficient medical evidence. The Board will need to obtain new examinations to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's low back pain status-post surgery with MRI findings of extrusion and free fragment, L5 and S1, was granted a 40 percent rating from May 1, 2009 through December 10, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and TDIU prior to March 14, 2016 due to inadequate medical opinions and inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability from April 13, 2015, to January 7, 2019.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and a left hip disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee ligament strain and left knee strain with arthritis, attributing this relationship to obesity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance from November 15, 2021, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him bedridden or in need of regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for joint pain, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, and knee degenerative arthritis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other factors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lower back disability is not related to his service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, low back disability, cervical spine disability, obstructive sleep apnea, right foot disability, left foot disability, and bilateral hearing loss, due to missing records from the Social Security Administration (SSA).

The appeal is remanded to provide the Veteran with needed VA examinations and address concerns raised by the Court decision regarding his claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for back, left knee, right knee, left shoulder, and right shoulder conditions due to lack of VA examinations and incomplete military records.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar spine disability prior to September 10, 2020 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current level of disability and noted that the Veteran had been granted service connection for this condition in March 2020 with an initial rating of 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease and related radiculopathies, bladder incontinence, bowel incontinence, right acromioclavicular joint separation, and depressive disorder, have resulted in the need for special monthly compensation at the housebound rate since April 20, 2006.

The appeal for service connection of a back disorder was docketed in error as the issue had not yet been adjudicated by the RO when the Veteran filed his appeal. The appeal is dismissed.