Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and relevant evidence. The claim for an acquired mental disorder, including bipolar disorder, is remanded as there was no readjudication after a November 2020 rating decision. The claim for lumbar spine disability (claimed as pain) is also remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral flat feet, and insomnia are granted. The Veteran's right knee disability and left knee disability each receive a rating of 10 percent. A higher rating is denied for the Veteran's insomnia since August 11, 2023, and his lumbar spine disability receives an increased rating to 20 percent.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error regarding the examination of the Veteran's lumbar spine condition and thus remands the case for further development.

The Board has found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to service and remands the case for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for spinal stenosis of the lumbar region, right knee disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability have been denied. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active duty or any other period of service.,VA medical records show complaints of knee pain but do not provide a diagnosis for the Veteran's knee disabilities.

The Veteran's increased disability rating for his residual scar of thoracolumbar spine was granted, with a final effective date set at the date of the July 2021 agency decision.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and the retrieval of clinical records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation during the periods from September 15, 2014 to January 6, 2016 and from January 16, 2018 to February 26, 2020.

The Veteran's low back disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathies have been granted initial ratings. The issue of service connection for a chronic kidney disability has also been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for a thorough VA examination of his lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including low back, left knee, bilateral trigger finger, hiatal hernia, and undiagnosed muscle and joint pain. The VA examinations requested in previous remands have not been conducted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate VA examination opinions and incomplete medical records.

The appeal is dismissed as no valid timely notice of disagreement was received for the issues of service connection and initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for increase in disability evaluations and total disability evaluation due to individual unemployability prior to June 3, 2024. The Veteran's disabilities need further assessment by VA medical personnel.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, finding that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's combination of service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder with PTSD, obstructive sleep apnea, irritable bowel syndrome, and multiple orthopedic conditions, prevents him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. Effective January 23, 2019, he is granted a TDIU rating.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a lumbar spine disability due to inadequate opinion and potential secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee degenerative joint disease, and right knee degenerative joint disease due to inadequate VA opinions.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies due to incomplete examination findings.

The Board has granted service connection for Degenerative Disc Disease of the lumbar spine, finding that it started during service and continued to present.