Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left foot, right foot, left knee, right knee, and back disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals for increased ratings of left ankle and left knee disorders and service connection for a lumbosacral strain.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to new evidence received since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case. The Veteran's representative requested copies of the January 2019 and May 2021 examination reports.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a lumbar spine condition and bilateral pes planus due to inadequate and/or unclear VA examinations. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted as secondary to the service-connected anxiety disorder. The lumbar spine and right hip disorders are denied due to lack of in-service onset or continuity of symptoms. Service connection for chronic hepatitis C is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU related to his back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an MRI if deemed appropriate.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that it is related to his active service and meets the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for right sacroiliac joint arthritis on a direct basis, finding that the condition is related to in-service symptoms of sacroiliitis and degenerative changes.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right and left sciatic nerves associated with his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is granted at a 40 percent evaluation, effective November 1, 2019.,The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was previously remanded and remains on appeal.

The Board has determined that the claims for higher ratings for lumbar disc herniation with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as the TDIU claim, are inextricably intertwined. Therefore, these issues must be remanded to allow for further development.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits are granted effective November 24, 2009 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right and left knee strains, as well as her asthma, were denied initial ratings in excess of 10 percent.,Her lumbar strain was granted an initial 20 percent rating.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee, shoulder, and low back disorders as they are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as there was not enough evidence to show he could not secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his low back disability was denied. The current rating of 20 percent is not considered appropriate given the severity and nature of his symptoms.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues, including service connection for hypertension and increased ratings for low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The TDIU claim remains on appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical spine disability, right and left upper extremity disabilities, acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and radiculopathy are denied. The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective July 17, 2015.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back, neck, left ankle, right ankle, and OSA disabilities due to incomplete examination opinions and lack of associated third-party statements.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for a right knee disability is granted. The Board has remanded all issues, including service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for a low back disability and remanded it for further development.