Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome, lumbar radiculopathy (right sciatic and right femoral nerves), and TDIU due to a lack of compliance with Correia v. McDonald requirements in the July 2020 VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his exposure to hazardous materials during service, particularly AFFF and lead paint. The claims are now pending again with instructions to prepare an Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record (ILER) and obtain further opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable (0 percent) since the January 2011 VA examination. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating.,Service connection for pterygium, onychomycosis, keratitis with bilateral dry eyes, and corneal pannus have been remanded as there is insufficient information regarding the competency of the VA examiners who conducted these examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for a retrospective VA medical opinion to assess the Veteran's ability to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities from June 28, 2011, to October 6, 2011.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding private medical records and missing service treatment records. The Veteran is considered a Persian Gulf veteran, and additional opinions are needed regarding his diagnoses of right shoulder strain, left shoulder strain, right knee strain, and patellofemoral syndrome.

The Board has granted service connection for lower back, cervical spine, and right knee disorders based on credible testimony of in-service injuries during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected lumbar strain, maxillary sinusitis, and functional diarrhea with hematochezia are being remanded due to procedural issues. Further examinations are needed to address the adequacy of the current evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability, right knee disability, and right shoulder disability due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the issues of bilateral lower extremity claudication, diabetes mellitus, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, lumbar strain, and osteosclerosis was dismissed due to a failure to timely file a VA Form 10182 with respect to the February 2020 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome of the lower lumbar spine and degenerative joint disease with medial and lateral meniscus tears of the left knee are currently rated at 20 percent and 10 percent, respectively. The Board has remanded these claims due to insufficient evidence or procedural issues.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder AC joint arthropathy with impingement and facet degeneration of the lumbar spine, finding that the Veteran's conditions began during active service and are causally related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, which may be related to service or secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disability.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for service-connected thoracolumbar spine disorder and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy due to outstanding private medical records being needed.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability was denied. The Board found that the disability did not meet criteria for a higher rating prior to January 9, 2020 and from January 9, 2020 onwards.

The Veteran's appeal for eligibility to direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in an October 2020 Rating Decision has been dismissed because the appellant withdrew his appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology and pathophysiology of the Veteran's musculoskeletal disabilities, which may be related to his exposure to environmental hazards during service. The VA will obtain new medical opinions addressing these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his claimed conditions and active service, including exposure to herbicide agents and asbestos.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy or peripheral neuropathy, as well as his neck and low back disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding of current disability in these conditions.