Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to insufficient evidence from a previous examination. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of right foot fracture has been reopened due to new evidence provided since the last denial.,The Veteran's claim for lumbar spine disability, including DDD, has been reopened due to new evidence provided since the last denial. The Board finds that the Veteran's condition is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased disability ratings and service connection are denied.,The Veteran is not entitled to an earlier effective date prior to November 22, 2015, for the grant of increased disability ratings for his lumbosacral strain and residuals of a right second metacarpal fracture.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy is also denied as there was no factual ascertainable increase in disability prior to November 22, 2015.

The Board has denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to military service.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to new evidence indicating possible increases in his service-connected conditions. The cases are being remanded for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's back disorder and right lower extremity radiculopathy were granted increased ratings, while left lower extremity radiculopathy had its rating restored. The dental disorder case remains in appellate status.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for schizo-affective disorder, depressed type and a chronic back disorder due to additional development of medical records and obtaining opinions from VA evaluators.

The Board has granted service connection for shoulder impingement with rotator cuff tendonitis, right and left shoulders, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the knees, and lumbosacral strain. The Veteran's bilateral shin splints claim is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for higher disability ratings for his bilateral knee and back disabilities is being remanded due to the need for additional retrospective medical opinions.

The Veteran's IBS and pseudofolliculitis barbae are granted service connection. The cervical spine/neck disability, lumbar spine/low back disability, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity secondary to the lumbar spine are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for higher disability ratings and earlier effective dates have been dismissed as withdrawn. The claims of service connection for allergic rhinitis, sleep apnea, left shoulder arthralgia, right shoulder arthralgia, left knee arthritis, and right knee arthritis are remanded.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for low back disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (previously claimed as right and left leg conditions), right carpal tunnel syndrome, and left carpal tunnel syndrome. The claims are now remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's back and left shoulder disabilities are related to their service, as previous opinions did not adequately address the Veteran's statements regarding combat duties.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative, and the Board is dismissing the case as a result.

The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD with L1 compression fracture was granted a rating of 20 percent prior to March 31, 2010 and 40 percent after that date. The initial ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy were denied.

The Veteran's left knee strain with internal derangement and right knee strain with internal derangement are granted a rating of 10 percent each, effective June 8, 2013. The Veteran's lumbar radiculopathy is granted a rating of 10 percent each for the left and right lower extremities, effective prior to April 26, 2023.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his low back disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show forward flexion limited to 60 degrees or less, combined range of motion limited to 120 degrees, or muscle spasm resulting in an abnormal gait or spinal contour, which are required for a higher rating under the General Formula.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, service connection for various knee and spine disorders, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the need to obtain updated medical records from private providers and to provide VA examinations.