Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's petition to reopen her claim for service connection for headaches, which were secondary to service-connected major depression disorder (MDD), was denied. Her claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is remanded due to insufficient evidence. The left shoulder disorder claim remains pending.

The Board has denied a higher rating for the Veteran's right ankle strain and arthritis of the right ankle. The claims for service connection for a right knee disability and lumbar spine disability, both secondary to the right ankle disability, are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings, finding that a rating higher than 20 percent was not warranted prior to October 11, 2021 and that a rating higher than 40 percent has been unwarranted since then.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a gynecological disability (claimed as dysfunctional uterus syndrome), calcified granuloma, asthma, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD), and lumbosacral and left ankle disabilities. These claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions in light of potential toxic exposure from service.

The Veteran's DDD of the lumbosacral spine is now rated at 40 percent effective December 22, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions regarding his back pain, bilateral knee conditions, and bilateral hip conditions. The case will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraines, PTSD, TBI residuals, uterine leiomyoma with hysterectomy, cervical strain, thoracolumbar strain, and tinnitus, prevented her from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 29, 2014.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a new VA examination and medical opinion regarding his service-connected lumbar spine disability, as well as for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and bilateral hip disabilities. The issues of TDIU prior to May 20, 2023 are also being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and right knee disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board has granted a TDIU. The claims for higher ratings remain pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate development of evidence, particularly regarding the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis. The issues are now pending for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete STRs and other missing records. The Veteran is entitled to service connection for tinnitus, but his claim remains pending on all other issues.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent, effective from February 26, 2014, but prior to August 10, 2022. The rating for the left lower extremity radiculopathy was granted at 40 percent as of December 30, 2021. TDIU benefits were granted effective from February 26, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for scar of the lower back, residual of laminectomy is denied.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right eye retinal detachment with diplopia, bilateral iritis and status post bilateral cataract extraction are remanded. The Veteran must provide VA with any private treatment records not already in the file.,The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine with degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis, status post laminectomy, ankylosing spondylitis, and bilateral sacroiliac arthritis is remanded. The Veteran must provide VA with any private treatment records not already in the file.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of medical opinion regarding the etiology and relationship between his current conditions and military service. The issues include lower back condition, right sciatica, left sciatica, and coronary artery disease secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with IVDS is granted a 60 percent rating effective June 27, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for low back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate medical examination, incomplete record retrieval, and inextricable interconnection with his back disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral hearing loss due to additional development being required. The claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability is denied as there is no evidence of chronicity during or within presumptive periods after service, and continuity of symptomatology since separation from service is not established. The claim for bilateral hearing loss remains remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's combined disability rating was correctly calculated as 80 percent prior to September 4, 2019. A higher combined rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for information regarding the competence of the VA examiner who conducted her back examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back condition and its relationship to service, particularly his left shoulder disability.