Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for low back pain and degenerative disk disease, finding that his symptoms began during service and have continued since.

The Board has decided that a remand is necessary to provide the Veteran with an adequate medical opinion addressing his lay evidence of record and clearly addressing his claimed condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including low back disorder, left knee disorder, left ankle disorder, and bilateral foot disorders. The VA examiner's opinions are inadequate as they do not address the Veteran's contentions regarding her work history and post-service symptoms.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40% effective March 19, 2021. The appeal for higher ratings prior to this date is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his low back disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent, as there was no evidence of forward flexion to 30 degrees or less, combined range of motion to 120 degrees or less, ankylosis, muscle spasm, or guarding resulting in abnormal gait/spinal contour. The Board also noted that the Veteran's IVDS did not require physician-prescribed bed rest.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for a low back disability due to inadequate medical opinion and need for additional development.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability is granted. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral leg disabilities, neck disability, back disability, and left hip disability.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left wrist fracture residuals, lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, right upper extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, right lower extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity neuropathy. The decision is based on the lack of evidence showing a current disability or chronic symptoms during service.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current condition and any in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and readjudication due to incomplete service treatment records, including those from her National Guard, Reserve, and Federal active duty service. The AOJ is instructed to attempt to obtain these records and provide new opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, bilateral feet disabilities, and left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for mechanical low back pain syndrome and degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, as well as the TDIU claim. The case must be reviewed by the AOJ to consider additional evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of degenerative arthritis is related to his in-service injury. The TDIU claim was withdrawn prior to the decision.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's current back disability is at least as likely as not proximately due to or aggravated by her service-connected right ankle sprain.

The Board has determined that there is not enough evidence to support a finding that the Veteran's current low back disability is related to his active duty service, including as based on onset of arthritis within one year of separation from active duty. Therefore, service connection for a low back disability is denied.

The Veteran's cervical spine, ankle, knee, hip, and shoulder conditions are being remanded for further development.,Specifically, the Board is requesting additional medical opinions to determine if these conditions are secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's back disorder and right shoulder ACJ separation have been granted service connection as they are related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a right hip disability, a lumbar back disability, and a right shoulder disability. The Veteran's claims were based on his contention that these disabilities are secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability.,VA examiners provided negative opinions regarding direct and secondary service connection for the claimed conditions.

The Board has reopened the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence received since a final December 2007 rating decision. The remaining issues on appeal, including those related to back disability and other conditions, are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his low back disability due to incomplete record development.