Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's left knee, right hip, and low back disabilities have been granted initial maximum schedular ratings from specific dates. The issues of increased ratings for the lower extremities radiculopathy and TDIU remain pending.

The Veteran's asthma claim has been dismissed as a full grant of benefits was awarded in the September 2021 rating decision.,The Board has remanded the issues regarding low back strain, right PFS, left PFS, left hip strain with left hip impairment, left hip strain with limitation of flexion, right hip strain with right hip impairment, and right hip strain with limitation of flexion for further development.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and a back disability, due to new evidence added to the record since the last readjudication.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral flatfoot, lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability must be remanded to obtain further medical examination and opinion.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is granted service connection. The low back disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are all denied increased ratings. TDIU prior to October 1, 2018 is granted but since then is denied. Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits was granted effective March 18, 2016.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to less than substantial compliance with previous directives. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated neurologic impairments are being reviewed, as is his migraine headaches.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lower lumbar, previously evaluated as degenerative arthritis of the spine, was reopened and granted. The effective date is set at May 1, 2018.,Service connection for PTSD was granted with a rating of 70 percent. The effective date for this grant is also set at May 1, 2018.

The Veteran's cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, along with associated radiculopathies of the upper and lower extremities, are granted as service-connected.,Separate issues regarding knee disabilities remain pending.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder due to new and material evidence received since the March 2014 rating decision. However, further development is needed before the merits of the claim can be addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU benefits.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and rating for various disabilities, including a physical sleep disorder. The Veteran's claims are being referred back for further development.

The Board has dismissed the issue of service connection for bilateral cervical radiculopathy. The issues of initial ratings higher than 40 percent for a low back disability, and initial ratings higher than 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy and 10 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded due to the Veteran's assertions of worsening symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability and remanded the issues of initial evaluations for right femur disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of medical records and incomplete evidence. The claims will be further developed with an emphasis on obtaining relevant treatment records, including from VA and private sources.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that there is no causal relationship between his current disability and any in-service injury or service-connected condition.

The Veteran's cervical spine spondylosis with foraminal stenosis, right knee patellofemoral pain and chondromalacia, left knee patellofemoral pain and chondromalacia, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis are all remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to address the Veteran's complaints of flare-ups and their impact on his lumbosacral strain.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate development and lack of compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's back, left wrist, and left shoulder disabilities are being reviewed for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claim for a back disability, including as secondary to a left knee disability, due to inadequate medical opinions and need for additional development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's private medical records, and thus this case is being remanded for further action.