Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's right shoulder strain, impingement syndrome and rotator cuff tendonitis are found to be service-connected. The lumbar spine disorder is denied as there is no current diagnosis prior to the filing of the claim. Other conditions such as painful scars, hand disorders, elbow disorders, knee disorders, traumatic brain injury, vertigo, cervical spine disorder, wrist disorders, arm disorders, hip disorders, shin disorders, ankle disorders, and foot disorders are also denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent effective July 1, 2018. A TDIU rating is granted effective July 1, 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar strain, finding that his symptoms are at least as likely as not related to his active service.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims for further development, including those for pes planus, left wrist cyst disability, gastrointestinal disability (separate from chronic constipation), cardiovascular disability, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), fatigue disability, headache disability, left knee disability, back disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and right wrist disability. The gastrointestinal claim was expanded to include any gastrointestinal disability separate from the already service-connected chronic constipation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and lumbar degenerative disc disease and spondylosis, as well as plantar fasciitis, were denied. The Veteran was not granted a higher disability rating.

The Board has denied service connection for various knee, ankle, and shoulder disorders as the evidence does not show current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in duty to assist and insufficient opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back conditions, specifically whether his service-connected knee conditions caused or aggravated his obesity, which contributed to his current low back conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a lumbar condition, right knee condition, and bilateral hearing loss due to missing service treatment records and personnel records. The Veteran's active duty service in Iraq is also unclear.

The Veteran's back brace and bilateral knee braces caused wear and tear to his clothing, specifically causing damage to shirts from the back brace and pants from the knee braces. The Board granted three annual clothing allowances for the 2021 calendar year based on this finding.

The Veteran's increased ratings for lumbosacral spine strain and sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity are denied as his disability picture does not warrant a higher rating under applicable criteria.

The Board has remanded the service connection claim for a left knee disability and the temporary total evaluation claim due to insufficient medical opinions in the file. The issues are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 100% since November 10, 2015. Bilateral sciatic nerve radiculopathy disabilities are each granted a 10% rating effective January 18, 2022.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 10 percent from November 30, 2008, through November 12, 2009, and denied a higher rating. From November 13, 2009, the Veteran's disability was rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for her service-connected degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the lumbar spine from August 23, 2013, to October 6, 2021 is remanded due to inadequate development.

The Board has granted an effective date of June 17, 2008 for the grant of a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The decision is subject to regulations governing payment of monetary awards.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine condition and a low back condition due to failure to substantially comply with an August 2022 remand.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is granted at a 40 percent evaluation, and her right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each granted initial 20 percent evaluations.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including range of motion measurements.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA medical nexus opinions in December 2020 and June 2023. The claims are being remanded for new VA examinations to address the issues of a low back disability, left and right knee disabilities, left and right foot disabilities, and a right shoulder disability.