Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and arranging for an examination by an orthopedist to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities, and bilateral foot disorder due to lack of substantial compliance with previous directives.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for a cervical spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disability, including generalized anxiety disorder.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran was unemployable prior to March 17, 2016 due to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The case is being remanded for further examination and consideration.

An effective date of June 26, 2013, but no earlier, is assigned for the grant of an increased rating to 20 percent for the service-connected low back disability.,An effective date of June 26, 2013, but no earlier, is assigned for the grant of an increased rating to 40 percent for the service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.,Entitlement to an effective date of January 1, 2006, but no earlier, for the grant of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted.,Entitlement to an effective date of January 1, 2006, but no earlier, for the grant of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues include clarifying the diagnosis of the Veteran's back disability, addressing in-service injury claims, post-Iraq deployment health assessment, and service connection on a secondary basis due to right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his service-connected cervical neck strain with degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis, and intervertebral disc syndrome. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for right upper extremity radiculopathy and left upper extremity radiculopathy associated with this condition are also remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and neck/upper back disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within one year after discharge. The Board also found that the current disabilities are not related to military service.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left hand disability, and left knee disability. The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder was not found to be related to his military service due to lack of in-service complaints or treatment.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability was also denied as there is no evidence of chronicity within one year post-service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, neck, and back disabilities due to incomplete medical records and need for new VA opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder, finding that the severity of his condition did not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral stress fracture of the tibia, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability due to outstanding medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine and remanded the issue of service connection for Bilateral Hearing Loss Disability.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with its June 2020 remand directives and requires another remand to afford the Veteran a new VA examination and to procure new nexus opinions supported by a thorough, well-reasoned rationale.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for a back disability and a right knee disability due to inadequate medical opinions in the original decision. Additional development is needed, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from an appropriate medical professional.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine is rated at 20 percent prior to September 22, 2015, and denied for a higher rating thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to various joints and pain conditions, but the Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if any of these conditions are service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a right knee disability. The issue of entitlement to an increased rating for PTSD is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. The Board also found no continuity of symptomatology or causal relationship between the Veteran's current disability and his military service.