Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, effective February 23, 2021. The rating reflects that the Veteran's flexion of the thoracolumbar spine was greater than 60 degrees but not more than 85 degrees during the appeal period.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for low back disorder was denied prior to March 25, 2019.,From March 25, 2019 onwards, the Veteran is entitled to a 40 percent rating for his service-connected low back disorder.

The Veteran's back, hips, and thighs conditions have been remanded for further development due to inadequate medical opinions provided in the previous decisions.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee DJD status post ACL repair and lumbar DDD, retrolisthesis, and segmental instability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left total knee replacement.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, left shoulder strain, and radiculopathy of the upper extremities were all denied ratings in excess of their current assigned ratings.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back, bilateral hip, bilateral hand (claimed as arthritis), and left knee conditions due to a lack of persuasive evidence showing current disabilities related to these conditions during or recent to the filing of his claims.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the claims for service connection for a back disorder, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of evidence not previously considered. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU is now before the AOJ.

The Board has found that there were pre-decisional duty to assist errors and remands the claims for service connection of lumbar spine disability and left knee disability due to inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating. Her degenerative arthritis lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent and her tinnitus is rated at 10 percent. The appeals for increased ratings are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and needs further development.

The Board denied service connection for cervical and thoracolumbar spine conditions, finding no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, requiring a new opinion on whether the Veteran's lower back disability is related to his military service.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's hearing acuity did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to his current hearing levels being at Level I in both ears, resulting in a noncompensable rating. For the neck and back disabilities, the Board determined there is insufficient competent medical evidence on file to decide the claims, necessitating further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbosacral spine and cervical spine are rated based on limitation of motion. The current ratings do not meet criteria for higher ratings.,PTSD is currently evaluated at a 70 percent rating, which is the maximum available under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and a recurrent lumbar spine disability due to exposure to Persian Gulf War environmental hazards including burn pits. The VA is instructed to obtain all relevant service records and private treatment records.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased ratings in excess of the assigned disability ratings for major depressive disorder, radiculopathy, and degenerative disc disease. The Board dismissed all issues on appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for TBI, headaches, tinnitus, a low back condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder as there is no persuasive evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent, and the cervical spine disability is rated at 30 percent. The higher ratings are denied.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's low back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy, but granted a separate compensable rating for the latter condition prior to December 9, 2019. The TDIU claim was also denied.