Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board denied service connection for back and cervical spine disorders, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed psychiatric and musculoskeletal conditions. The VA will obtain additional medical records, schedule examinations, and provide a thorough review of the Veteran's history.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left knee disability, an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and a thoracolumbar spine disability. The issues of service connection are being reviewed on their merits.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination for assessing the severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, including range of motion testing in both active and passive motions, as well as weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of records from the Veteran's National Guard service and an insufficient opinion regarding whether his low back disability is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip and low back disorders due to a missed RAMP Opt-in form, lack of correspondence indicating participation in the RAMP program, and need for additional development including obtaining relevant medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma has been denied as there is no evidence showing the condition started during his service or is related to his service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and penile condition due to herbicide exposure have been remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD remains pending, with a need for new and material evidence. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD also has been remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence showing it was incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left shoulder disability and a back disability, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service. However, the claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss remains denied.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a back disability and bilateral upper extremity neuropathy, as well as the issue of TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. Additional development is needed including obtaining private treatment records, Social Security Administration records, and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's upper extremity neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck disability, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, and back disability due to inadequate examinations and lack of clear opinions regarding service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for tinnitus, hemorrhoids, PTSD, lumbar strain, and allergic rhinitis due to inadequate examinations and need for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine condition and remanded the issue of service connection for toenail fungus. The decision on the lumbar spine condition is that it did not have its onset during service, thus denying service connection.

The Board dismissed the appeal for an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative joint disease, lumbosacral spine as the appellant requested to withdraw his appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his service. The appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding a right ring finger disability.,A right ring finger injury sustained during active duty in 2003 is noted in the STRs, but no current right ring finger disability has been diagnosed. The Veteran's claim of a current right ring finger disability must be addressed.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition, finding that the Veteran's current disability did not originate during service and was not caused by any in-service event, injury, disease, or disorder.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of the record, including VA treatment records since February 2020 and an additional examination by an orthopedic surgeon.

The Veteran's lumbar condition was granted a disability rating of 40 percent, effective from various dates throughout the appeal period. His right and left lower extremity radiculopathy were also granted initial disability ratings of 20 percent.

The Board has found the January 2017 VA examination inadequate for adjudicative purposes and remanded several issues related to service connection. The Veteran's claims are now being returned for further development.