Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical records and the need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's neck disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for multiple disabilities have been remanded due to the lack of a Statement of the Case addressing these issues.

The Veteran's lumbar strain and degenerative disc disease are currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board has found that a higher rating is not warranted. The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is now rated at 20 percent. Other issues have been remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding her lay statements and post-service medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's neck, right shoulder, left shoulder, low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The claims were previously remanded due to incomplete medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development and compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including those related to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right ankle, left knee, flat feet, thoracolumbar strain (back condition), and sciatic radiculopathy of the right lower extremity have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and bilateral hearing loss. Service connection was granted for psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD).,Service connection was not established for the Veteran's claimed conditions as they were not shown to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lower back condition due to incomplete records and further development is needed.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral tinnitus, thoracolumbar spine condition, and cervical spine condition due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between noise exposure in service and current hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, right hip disability, and low back disability due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding their etiology. The VA will obtain medical opinions to address whether these conditions are related to service or secondary to other disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for chronic low back pain and thoracic spine disability, cervicothoracic spine pain, right knee pain and dysfunction, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding the in-service onset of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, as there are inconsistencies in the evidence and additional information is needed to make a determination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and esophageal cancer, including as due to radiation exposure. Additional evidence is needed to determine if there is a link between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeals regarding reductions in rating, increased ratings, earlier effective dates for certain benefits, and an earlier effective date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability have been withdrawn. The Board has dismissed these appeals.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating issues due to conflicting evidence and need for additional examination. The Veteran is not entitled to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for TBI prior to December 17, 2020, and entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 70 percent thereafter for conversion disorder with mixed symptoms with other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder and TBI. The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, cervical and lumbar spinal damage are also remanded.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board denied an increased rating greater than 20 percent.,The Veteran was granted a 20 percent initial rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (femoral nerve) and a 10 percent initial rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (sciatic nerve).,The Board denied an increased rating greater than 20 percent for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (sciatic nerve), finding that it more nearly approximated moderate paralysis.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for a lumbar spine compression fracture has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate this claim as the appellant is deceased.

The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination. The issues of service connection for left knee, left leg, low back, right hip, and right knee disabilities are all under review.