Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral flat feet, acquired psychiatric condition, lip injury, left shoulder condition, hypertension, and back condition have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claims are granted in part.

The Veteran's back disability and lower extremity radiculopathies have been rated based on their severity, with some separate ratings for specific nerves involved. The initial rating of 40% has been granted from October 14, 2020, to February 27, 2023, for the back disability and lower extremity radiculopathies.

The Board denied service connection for TBI, lumbosacral spine disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral knee disability. The Veteran's claims were not granted as the evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities related to active service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as the evidence does not show that he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further development and evaluation of the Veteran's lumbosacral strain condition.

The Veteran's back, neck, and radicular symptoms have worsened since his last VA examinations. The AOJ must schedule new examinations to determine the current severity of his disabilities and readjudicate the issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim prior to November 13, 2015 for consideration of an extraschedular rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b). The SMC based on housebound status is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not shown to preclude her from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and therefore the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The remaining issues are remanded for further examination and analysis.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased rating, TDIU on extraschedular basis, and SMC at the housebound rate due to deficiencies in compliance with prior remand directives. The Veteran's low back disability is being reviewed again, and his income information from March 19, 2008 to April 23, 2014 needs to be verified.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of lumbar spine, bilateral knee, and bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve disabilities are denied. The case is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his bilateral knee and lumbar spine disabilities.,The Veteran is also being remanded for a determination on his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's low back disability, neck disability, and bilateral calf muscle pain have been granted service connection.,Obstructive sleep apnea has also been granted secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disorder and low back disorder have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,New evidence has reopened both claims, but further review is required as there are still unresolved issues regarding service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the condition had its onset in service. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete efforts in obtaining service records, particularly those from the Veteran's last prior name during her Army National Guard service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lower back condition and right knee condition due to new and material evidence. The cases are remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for a right hip disorder due to the lack of evidence of a current disability. The appeal is remanded for further development, including an examination to determine if the Veteran's scoliosis and degenerative disc disease are related to his service-connected right knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of injury to right ankle with history of neuroma and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine have been denied as there is no evidence that warrants a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.