Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and he has been granted a TDIU. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from obtaining and maintaining any form of gainful employment for the entire period on appeal, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disorder and right shoulder disorder, both diagnosed as arthritis. The Veteran's current conditions are related to injuries noted in service.,Service connection is also granted for bilateral hand pain, but the claim is remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cervical spine, low back, bilateral foot (plantar fasciitis), bilateral ankle (sprain and tendonitis), and bilateral knee disabilities due to insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran's lay statements regarding her symptoms and their timeline are considered in reaching a decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for sinusitis, rhinitis, and back disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on the criteria provided in the Rating Schedule.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a back condition is granted. The claim of service connection for a back condition is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition has been reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition was denied, as new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for lower back disorder, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to non-compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, knee, and back disorders have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,Service connection has been granted for a thoracolumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on multiple conditions, including PTSD with depression, lumbosacral strain, and radiculopathy associated with lumbosacral strain, has been remanded due to the addition of new evidence since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right leg shin splints, left leg shin splints, bilateral knee conditions, and back condition due to inadequate VA examinations. The examinations were not adequate as they did not provide a clear diagnosis or sufficient rationale regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current symptoms and service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and further development is required.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA, left knee joint osteoarthritis, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine (back), degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine (neck), and headaches. The Veteran's conditions are found to be at least as likely as not related to his military service.,The decision also remanded the issue of service connection for right knee joint osteoarthritis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II and/or hypertension caused his obesity, which in turn caused his low back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's low back, wrist, knee, and foot disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck, left shoulder, right shoulder, and back disabilities due to inadequate VA opinions based on the factual record.

The Board has remanded the cases for further medical opinions to address whether the Veteran's low back condition and ED are related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and examination due to missing service medical records, conflicting evidence regarding qualifying Southwest Asia service, and incomplete information about the nature of his conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, particularly his unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder. The RO is instructed to obtain any outstanding service treatment records, especially those from East Germany where the Veteran was hospitalized during his deployment.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, including degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease, was granted a 50 percent rating effective November 1, 2022. The appeal remains on appeal as the Veteran has not expressed satisfaction with this increased rating.