Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's disability rating for IVDS with degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine DDD, spondylosis, and stenosis is granted at a 40 percent effective from August 8, 2018. Other claims are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lower back disability is caused by her service-connected left knee disability, and thus grants service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disorders, as well as a back disorder. The Veteran's knee strains are not considered related to his service.,Service connection was also denied for a left leg disorder other than the knee strain, and a right leg disorder other than the knee strain and sciatica.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy and degenerative arthritis of the spine were granted ratings, with the radiculopathy receiving a 20% rating effective February 19, 2020.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and PTSD due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations related to his back condition, and VA must attempt to verify an in-service stressor involving Manuel Pardo.

The Board has determined that there were errors in the duty to assist prior to the rating decisions and has remanded the case for further development.

The Veteran's right hip disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine, bilateral knee, and left ankle disabilities.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disability and back disability. The Veteran's preexisting conditions are being considered, and a new VA examination will be scheduled.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU benefits.

The Veteran's residual scars of the posterior trunk are currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various spinal and extremity conditions due to procedural issues. Further development is needed, including VA examinations.

The Board has restored the previously assigned 40 percent rating for the lumbar spine disability and the previously assigned 20 percent rating for the RLE radiculopathy, effective October 1, 2021.,The reduction in ratings was improper as there is no evidence of actual improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is found to have begun during active service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis was rated at 20 percent prior to March 1, 2021. The appeal is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy has been granted with effective dates of March 7, 1981, February 13, 2014, and February 13, 2014 respectively.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and private medical opinion are inadequate for adjudication purposes, necessitating a remand to obtain an addendum medical opinion.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, which resulted in a 40 percent rating, did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it did not result in unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or the entire spine, or functional equivalent thereof.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is rated at 40 percent, and his cervicogenic headaches are rated at 50 percent. The appeal for higher ratings has been denied.

The Board has granted service connection for L3/L4 disc herniation and bilateral radiculopathy of the lower extremities, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to service. The Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms have been considered in conjunction with medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ankle disorders, as well as right and left knee disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.,An effective date prior to November 25, 2019, for the grant of service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease and cluster headaches is denied.