Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's heart condition, particularly as related to his conceded herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The right shoulder, low back, left knee, and left ankle disabilities are all found to be related to her service-connected right knee disabilities.,The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The right shoulder, low back, left knee, and left ankle disabilities are all found to be related to her service-connected right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal of the issues related to his foot disability, tinnitus, DM, and associated conditions have been withdrawn. The claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted due to continuous symptoms since service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the service connection for a low back disability. The Veteran's statements and testimony need to be considered in the new examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's back and left lower extremity flare-ups.

The Board has determined that the VA examination of November 2019 is inadequate for adjudication purposes and remands the matter to obtain a new examination. The Veteran's low back disability presents with particular complications due to his non-service-connected spinal cord injury, so an examiner specializing in spinal cord disabilities, nervous disorders, and/or orthopedic disabilities must complete the examination.

The Board has denied service connection for the Veteran's lumbar strain and degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine (claimed as lower back condition), right hip osteoarthritis, and right knee condition.,There is no evidence of a nexus between the current conditions and active duty.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there is no credible evidence linking his current arthritis to an in-service injury or disease. The Board concluded that the Veteran's reports of continuity of symptomatology are internally inconsistent and not credible.

The Board has remanded the cases due to failure to address VA's duty to assist and the need for an examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's low back and right hip disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and a low back disability, finding that the current conditions are not related to service.,There is no evidence of chronicity or continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development and clarification of evidence.,Specifically, additional medical opinions are required regarding the etiology of various conditions including cervical spine degenerative disc disease, lumbar spinal degenerative disc disease, right shoulder disorder, right hip disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, fibromyalgia (Gulf War Illness), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) (Gulf War Illness), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (Gulf War Illness), and migraine headaches.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative spondylosis and denied service connection for right knee disability. The claim for TDIU is remanded.

The TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of a new claim filed by the Veteran. The anxiety disorder claim is referred to the RO for possible adjudication.

The Veteran's initial requests for higher ratings for his left and right knee disabilities, migraine headaches, lumbar spine disability, sinusitis, and psychiatric disability have been denied.,For the period prior to May 27, 2021, the Veteran's migraine headaches were rated at 30% effective from September 16, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, to include PTSD and substance abuse, was granted. The claim of service connection for a low back disability is remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for cervical spine, left hip, thoracolumbar spine, and right lower extremity nerve disabilities due to secondary service connection. The Veteran's claims are not supported by evidence showing a direct link between her current conditions and active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and for additional examinations to determine the current severity of his disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and lower back disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral spine residuals of sprain and right knee disability was dismissed. Separate initial ratings were granted for the right knee based on limitation of extension, instability, and symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage.

The Board has decided to remand four of the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinions. The claims include service connection for a back disability, left knee disability, acquired psychiatric disability, and residuals of a traumatic brain injury.