Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right lower extremity disorders, including shin splints with knee pain, as well as a low back disorder. The remand is due to errors in providing notice of the Veteran's right to a hearing prior to VA issuing a decision on his appeal and failing to consider recent medical evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to a failure to obtain necessary VA examinations.

Your appeals for various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's passing. No final decision has been made on your claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for a retrospective opinion on the severity of the Veteran's service-connected chronic low back strain and to adjudicate entitlement to TDIU prior to February 3, 2021.

The Veteran's right hip strain, limitation of flexion, is rated at 10 percent.,The Veteran's right hip strain, limitation abduction, adduction, and rotation, is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection of a back condition requires further examination and analysis due to a lack of a VA medical opinion specific to this issue.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on hypertension and low back pain has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction as the claimant is deceased.

The appeal for an initial compensable disability rating for right hip limitation of flexion is dismissed. The appeals for a greater than 10 percent disability rating for low back strain and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has granted an effective date of December 23, 2014 for the grant of a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran met the schedular criteria for TDIU at that time.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral pes planus due to issues with the addendum opinions provided by VA examiners. The examiner is requested to address the Veteran's statements regarding her in-service duties and motor vehicle accidents.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of lumbar spine, cervical spine, and left ankle disabilities before the Board could make a decision.

Service connection granted for tinnitus, but denied for bilateral hearing loss, back disability, left lower and right lower extremity sciatica, left upper and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension.,Hearing loss was not shown during service or within one year post-service. Sciatica and peripheral neuropathy were not diagnosed in service or post-service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and back condition were denied. However, the Veteran was granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and MDD.

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea, intermittent lumbar strain, radiculopathy of the right and left sciatic nerves, coronary artery disease (heart disability), and allergic and vasomotor rhinitis have been granted. The Veteran receives a 40 percent evaluation for their service-connected intermittent lumbar strain.

The Veteran's ratings for her back disability and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity were reduced from 20% to 10%, effective October 1, 2017. The Board has restored these ratings based on procedural errors in reducing them.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error in the initial decision and has remanded the Veteran's service connection claims for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disabilities and lumbar spine disability due to inadequate medical opinions in the September 2020 rating decision. The VA is required to obtain a new examination to address whether the Veteran's current conditions are related to service, including wear and tear.

The Veteran's low back disability is not rated higher than 40 percent due to lack of unfavorable ankylosis.,Left knee limitations are not rated higher than 20 percent due to lack of limitation of flexion or extension.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, while his bilateral hearing loss and other conditions are denied. The Board also remanded several issues for further development.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions were dismissed as he did not comply with proper claims processing rules, including failing to submit a valid RAMP Opt-in or timely notice of disagreement.