Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or causal relationship to service.

The Veteran's electric wheelchair, prescribed for his service-connected spinal condition, is found to cause wear and tear on his clothing. The Board grants an annual clothing allowance for the year 2021.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar spine degenerative joint and disc disease, tinnitus, left hip tenosynovitis, right hip tenosynovitis, and cervical spondylosis.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran's claimed conditions due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between his current disabilities and service.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis on a presumptive basis. The remaining issues have been remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed as his sole service-connected disability, Meniere's syndrome with left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, already grants him a 100% schedular rating. The back disorder issue is remanded for further development.

The appeal for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is dismissed. The claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (to include PTSD) has been reopened, but the rating for degenerative joint disease of lumbar spine with spondylosis remains remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for a VA examination. The psychiatric disorder service connection issue remains pending.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is granted service connection, with the condition likely having onset in active duty or reserve duty.,Service connection for hepatitis B remains pending as remanded. The claim will be reconsidered based on a determination of whether it was incurred during service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of a left hip condition and denied his claim for TDIU, finding that the appeal was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including right sciatic radicular pain, right hip condition, right knee condition, cervical spine condition, lumbar spine condition, left hip condition, and left knee condition. The claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed mixed connective tissue disease, as all other claims are intertwined with this diagnosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability and left hip disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding whether these conditions are proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected left gastrocnemius strain and achilles tendon inflammation. The claims will be returned to the Board after a new examination is conducted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches is granted, with a 10% rating. The service connection claim for a low back disorder is denied.

The Board has found the VA medical opinion inadequate and requires a remand for further development regarding the service connection of the Veteran's claimed right and left hip, as well as back conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and groin disorder due to insufficient rationale in the VA opinions provided. The Veteran is contending that his conditions began during active duty or are related to such.

The Veteran's service-connected low back and neck disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since at least April 19, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The effective dates for the granted benefits are not earlier than October 19, 2018.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder due to incomplete records and need for new medical opinions.

Service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) of the thoracolumbar spine is granted.,Service connection for right lower extremity neuropathy as due to service-connected IVDS is granted.,Service connection for left lower extremity neuropathy as due to service-connected IVDS is granted.,Service connection for right upper extremity neuropathy as due to service-connected IVDS is remanded.,Service connection for left upper extremity neuropathy as due to service-connected IVDS is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for a recurrent lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to conflicting opinions on whether the Veteran's current condition is related to service or pre-existing conditions.