Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder is a result of his service-connected bilateral knee conditions.

The Veteran's right foot pes planus rating was restored, and he received a 30 percent rating for bilateral pes planus from October 16, 2019. The Veteran also received service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and his chronic lumbosacral strain was rated higher than initially granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further review due to procedural errors and inadequate examinations. The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are now before the Board.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a middle back disorder has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claim during a Board hearing.,The Veteran's appeals for separate disability ratings and service connections for various upper extremity disorders have been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for left and right knee disabilities are dismissed because service connection has been granted. The claims for left wrist, low back, and left foot disabilities remain denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new examination to address the adequacy of previous examinations and to determine if he has muscular atrophy, which would affect his disability rating. The Veteran also seeks an increased rating for his neurological deficit condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to insufficient VA examination opinions regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder. The case is returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of hernia repair surgery is granted. The claims for increased ratings for right shoulder strain and lumbar strain are remanded.

The Board has decided that the reduction of the Veteran's left elbow scar rating from 10% to noncompensable effective May 13, 2016 was proper. The remaining issues have been remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for various conditions due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for lumbosacral degenerative arthritis and right leg radiculopathy were dismissed due to the death of the Veteran prior to a final decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. The issues of service connection for lumbar spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, hypertension, heart disease (including high cholesterol), gastroesophageal disorder, headache disorder, and respiratory disorder have been remanded.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia have also been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder. Additional development is needed, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, in combination, precluded her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment since June 8, 2019.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, diagnosed as severe degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, became manifest during service and is therefore considered incurred in service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The reduction of the rating for service-connected lumbar disability from 40 percent to 20 percent was improper, and the Veteran's 40 percent rating is restored.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD and lumbosacral strain have been granted. The decision is based on the reopening of the claim due to new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and effective dates has been granted.,Effective from July 23, 2007, the Veteran is entitled to a 10 percent disability rating for peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities. Effective from May 10, 2021, the Veteran is entitled to a 20 percent disability rating for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated at 40 percent since July 23, 2007. The effective date remains unchanged.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for right knee, left knee, and lumbar spine disabilities. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination findings regarding flare-ups and functional ankylosis. The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20%.