Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities have been denied. Effective dates earlier than July 1, 2006, for the grants of service connection for these disabilities are also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a bilateral eye disability, cervical spine disability (claimed as cervical strain), lumbar spine disability (claimed as lumbar strain), right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and bilateral plantar fasciitis are remanded. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than an insomnia disorder (to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)) is also remanded.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for TBI, PTSD, and various orthopedic disabilities have been granted. The cases are now remanded for further development.,The Board has determined that new evidence supports reopening the claims but cannot definitively link the conditions to service without additional examination.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU prior to October 17, 2019 are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but not higher. The Board found that the disability does not meet criteria for a higher rating due to insufficient evidence of total occupational and social impairment.,For lumbar spine disability, the Veteran was granted an increased rating to 20 percent effective March 10, 2018. The current rating is based on forward flexion limited to 45 degrees with no ankylosis or incapacitating episodes due to intervertebral disc syndrome.,For right ankle disability, a 10 percent rating was granted effective March 10, 2018. The Veteran's disability is characterized by moderate ankle symptoms including painful motion and limited dorsiflexion and plantar flexion.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The appeal pertaining to an ear disorder other than bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient medical evidence and issues related to radiculopathy of both lower extremities. The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 10 percent, but there are separate ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeals for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disorder, right and left ankle disorders, and right and left knee disorders are remanded due to the need for updated examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease, left wrist condition, left hand condition, and left hip condition due to incomplete or speculative medical opinions. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for thoracolumbar spine spondylolisthesis and degenerative disc disease (DDD) has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, anxiety and depression, and PTSD due to new evidence received since the last final rating decisions. The claims are being reopened as there is now sufficient evidence to suggest a current disability may be related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for back, neck, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding their onset during service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied a rating higher than 20 percent for left lumbar radiculopathy. The Veteran's claim for a rating higher than 20 percent for his left shoulder disability is remanded.

The Veteran's last day of work was April 13, 2013. The Board found that she was no longer able to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due solely to her service-connected back condition within the one-year period prior to filing her TDIU claim.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder impingement and degenerative AC joint disease, right eye disability (retinal disorder, cataracts, blepharitis, dry eye syndrome, macula scars of posterior pole), 4th and 5th left toe stress fracture residuals, and cervical spine disability. Service connection was denied for a right wrist/hand disability and left knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder degenerative arthritis, low back spondylosis/arthritic conditions, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, and sinusitis. The issues of service connection for right knee strain and left knee strain are remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent from September 6, 2011 to September 19, 2023 and at 40 percent from September 20, 2023 to the present. The Board denied higher ratings for these periods.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right upper extremity radiculopathy, as well as granted remand of the rating decisions for thoracolumbar degenerative disc condition, respiratory condition (including asthma and COPD), migraines, and TBI with photophobia.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that they did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.