Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's back disability and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome are related to service. Additional medical opinions are needed.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that it is related to a bad landing during military training. The claim was reopened due to new evidence submitted since the previous denial.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no merits decision was made.

The Veteran's lumbar strain and reactive airway disease have been granted a rating of 20 percent, but no more. The rating for reactive airway disease remains at 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right elbow, left elbow, and thoracolumbar spine as part of a generalized arthritic process.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his back disability and radiculopathy are remanded due to inadequate examination findings. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with the rating claims.

The Veteran's service connection claims for depression, anxiety, PTSD, low back condition, right hand condition, hypertension, and memory loss have been granted. The claim for increased disability rating in excess of 30 percent for right shoulder condition and increased initial disability rating for right knee condition remain denied.

The Board has dismissed all claims related to the Veteran's death, including service connection for low back disorder and hepatitis C, as well as rating and effective date issues for his depressive disorder with panic disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding his exposure to Project SHAD and its associated toxins. The claims are now pending again with instructions to obtain addenda to the March 2021 examiner's opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his back disability is denied. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar spine disability. Additionally, compensable evaluations are granted for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy effective December 8, 2015.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for an examination. The Veteran's back disability is related to service, but his dextroscoliosis may be a congenital defect that was aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings due to lack of VA examinations conducted by an orthopedist or specialist knowledgeable about the service connected hip and lumbar spine disabilities at issue.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is remanded due to inadequate VA examination reports and the need for additional functional loss information.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with prior remand directives and additional development is needed, including a supplemental VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder disability, left knee disability, and low back disability due to in-service injuries sustained during combat operations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability manifested during active service and is not due to a pre-existing condition, thus granting service connection for the disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request for an extension of temporary evaluation for convalescence following surgery for his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hip disability and its secondary relationship to service-connected disabilities have been remanded due to outstanding private treatment records and a need for an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative disease is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an adequate VA examination.