Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine conditions. The VA examiner did not consider the Veteran's lay contentions about a head injury during service and its impact on his current condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he is capable of sedentary work.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to conflicting findings regarding the results of the 1971 VA surgical procedures and a need for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for DDD of the lumbar spine with IVDS prior to November 2, 2020 is granted at 20 percent. The claim for maxillary sinusitis since November 2, 2020 is granted at 50 percent. The claim for traumatic deviated septum remains denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral pes planus, low back disability, hypertension secondary to PTSD, GERD secondary to PTSD and duodenal ulcer, and obstructive sleep apnea secondary to PTSD and duodenal ulcer due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck, right knee, left knee, sleep disorder (including insomnia), bilateral foot, bilateral eye, right shoulder, left shoulder, low back, and upper back disorders due to inadequate examination opinions. The claims are being returned for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for upper and lower bilateral peripheral neuropathy due to a lack of a VA examination. The claim for individual unemployability is also inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinion is inadequate and remands the case for further development, including obtaining additional treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to address the Veteran's claims.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, but has remanded his claims for left and right shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and his initial rating for osteoporosis lumbar spine disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to obtain all requested records, including National Guard treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for low back strain with degenerative joint disease was denied, and his claim for TDIU was granted.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability, to include degenerative disc disease (DDD), is granted. Entitlement to service connection for a low back disability, to include DDD, is also granted.,Entitlement to service connection for sinusitis, to include as secondary to low back condition, is remanded.

The Veteran's cervical spine condition, diagnosed as degenerative changes and muscle spasm, was granted service connection.,Service connection for bilateral pes cavus with plantar fasciitis is denied. The Veteran's disability rating remains at 30 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial ratings are being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration records.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a low back disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain VA audiological testing results, clarify the etiology of any current low back disorders, and determine if there is a relationship between the claimed conditions and in-service events.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining inpatient treatment records from his active duty and post-service VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete service records and unclear dates of service. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and schizophrenia are both being reviewed again, with a focus on the types of service performed during his Army Reserve and National Guard service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, a low back disability, a left knee disability (secondary to a low back disability), obstructive sleep apnea, genital herpes, and hypertriglyceridemia.,There is no evidence of in-service onset or continuity of symptoms since service for any of the conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current lumbar spine condition is related to his service, specifically a parachute accident during his first jump in 1958.