Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, and low back disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred during or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to September 27, 2013 for the grant of service connection for low back and right hip disabilities are denied.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her low back and right hip disabilities are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and its relation to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's back disability, which may be related to service or aggravated by a post-service injury.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating, as well as earlier effective dates. The issues include a right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's cervical strain with degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 10 percent prior to September 20, 2021, and at 30 percent thereafter. The claim for a higher rating remains denied as the evidence does not support an increase in ratings.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable prior to June 3, 2019 and at a 10 percent rating thereafter. The Board found the evidence did not support an increased rating for this condition.,Service connection for right shoulder degenerative arthritis, left shoulder degenerative arthritis, low back disability, cervical spine disability, right foot disability, left foot disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, right knee disability, left knee condition, right hip disability, and left hip disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and consideration due to inadequate medical opinions in the previous VA examinations. The Veteran's neck and back conditions are being reviewed again.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 40 percent from November 16, 2022. The Board found the evidence insufficient to warrant higher ratings for any period.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his back condition is denied, but he is granted a 20 percent disability rating prior to May 27, 2010. The case is remanded for further action regarding SMC based on housebound criteria.

The Veteran's lumbar spine IVDS with spondylolisthesis and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were granted ratings, but the Veteran still requires further development for his claims.

The Board has determined that new VA examinations are necessary to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right arm disability and to clarify its cause. The appeal is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and awarded a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from November 25, 2015. The issue of TDIU prior to that date is remanded.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, low back disorder, right knee disorder, and bilateral ankle disorders. Specifically, VA treatment records are needed, verification of the Veteran's service during active duty, and an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is incomplete due to missing procedural documents, including an NOD, SOC, and substantive appeal. The Board finds a further internal attempt to obtain these documents would not be reasonable or practical.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lower back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to their inextricable link with the pending claim of service connection for fibromyalgia.

The Board has denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for depressive disorder, hypertension, and a low back disability. The claim for bilateral knee disability was also denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates are being remanded due to the addition of new VA treatment records. The case will be returned to the RO for review.

The Veteran's current headache disability was first manifest during active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The claims for increased ratings of lumbar strain, left ear hearing loss, left hip flexion, right hip flexion, limited adduction and rotation of the left hip before February 20, 2020, rating in excess of 10 percent for limitation of adduction and rotation of the left hip since February 20, 2020, compensable ratings for right hip flexion and limited adduction and rotation of the right hip before February 20, 2020, and service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability are all remanded.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial staged ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as his TDIU claim prior to May 10, 2022, are being remanded due to incomplete development. The AOJ is instructed to obtain SSA records and schedule a VA examination for the Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine and associated right lower extremity radiculopathy.