Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee disability, eczema, low back/tailbone disability, and headaches due to inadequate examination reports and failure to address pre-service conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's low back disability and his service-connected left lower extremity shell fragment wound residuals. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a low back disability that may be secondary to his service-connected left lower extremity SFW residuals.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of lumbar strain, and the Board dismissed the case.

The Veteran's hearing loss is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it was aggravated by service and whether any increase in severity was due to its natural progression.,The Veteran's bilateral foot disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it was aggravated by service and whether any increase in severity was due to its natural progression. Additional steps are needed to verify the inservice injury that led to his current condition.,The Veteran's low back disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it began during service, manifested within one year after discharge, or is related to service. Further steps are needed to obtain in-service treatment records and verify stressors.,The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it began during service, manifested within one year after discharge, or is related to service. Further steps are needed to obtain in-service treatment records and verify the inservice injury.,The Veteran's asthma is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it was diagnosed while in service and whether any increase in severity is due to his service-connected ankle disabilities.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression) is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it began during service, manifested within one year after discharge, or is related to service. Further steps are needed to verify stressors.

New and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for lumbosacral strain.,The Veteran's PTSD is related to his military service. The examiner should provide an opinion on whether ED was aggravated by his acquired psychiatric disability.,Service connection is granted for PTSD, but no rating assigned as it is presumed due to in-service personal assault.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities and his cervical spine disability rated at 10 percent. The increased rating claim for the neck disability was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a cervical spine disability as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine and/or bilateral foot disabilities due to inadequate opinions provided by the VA examiner. The case will be returned for further evaluation.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating. The Veteran was granted increased ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve and femoral nerve radiculopathy effective November 7, 2018. Service connection for erectile dysfunction was granted with an effective date of October 13, 2017.

The Veteran's low back disability and radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities were granted increased ratings, with a 40% rating for each condition from April 7, 2015 to November 18, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted. The claims for service connection and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has ordered an addendum VA examination to address the Veteran's claim of service connection for a lower back condition due to inadequate previous examination and remand instructions.

The Board has remanded the claim for an increased rating for lumbar spinal stenosis due to additional development needed, including a VA examination to assess the severity of flare-ups and their impact on functional ability.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's back injury during service is the cause of his current condition.

The Board dismissed the appeal as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in its entirety, including for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's lower back disability, bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculopathy, and headaches have been granted service connection. A 50% rating has also been assigned for the Veteran's tension headaches.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to the need for further medical evaluation.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent prior to January 8, 2021 and SMC based on permanent need for regular aid and attendance is granted.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for low back disorder and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with current compression fractures T12 through L4 is granted as service connected. The issue of secondary service connection for bilateral hip osteoarthritis (claimed as segmental and somatic dysfunction of pelvic) to include as secondary to degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with current compression fractures T12 through L4, claimed as back condition, is remanded.