Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, finding that the current condition is not causally related to service and is not aggravated by or caused by a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left elbow disability and a back disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, but the VA examiners have not provided sufficient opinions regarding direct service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and needs additional information from a medical expert regarding whether the Veteran's back disability is related to his service.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy associated with a back disability, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as there was no credible evidence linking these conditions to active military service.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of December 7, 1998 for the establishment of entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's headaches were also denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent.,Service connection was not granted as the evidence did not support that any current diagnosed conditions resulted from service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's right upper extremity cervical radiculopathy is granted as secondary to her service-connected cervical spine disability. A 40 percent rating for her lumbar spine disability is granted, effective from February 27, 2015. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since the entire rating period on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection of a back disability due to incomplete development and lack of substantial compliance with previous remands. The Veteran's complete service treatment records, including any service in Germany from 1978, need to be obtained. Additionally, all medical care providers who treated the Veteran for back complaints since service should be contacted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the Veteran's back disability and confirming that all pertinent VA and private treatment records have been obtained.

The Board has determined that new examinations are needed for the Veteran's claims of osteoporosis of the lumbar spine, cervical spine, right hip and femur, and left hip and femur due to potential inconsistencies in previous examination reports. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, right leg disorder, left leg disorder, and headaches due to inadequate VA opinions. The Veteran is required to provide additional evidence or explanations.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability can be adjudicated.

The Board granted service connection for cervical-spine disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is directly caused by his in-service wear and carry of heavy equipment. However, it denied service connection for thoracolumbar-spine disorder due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.,Service connection was established for cervical spine issues based on chronicity and a nexus between in-service injury and current disability. The Board found no direct link between the Veteran's thoracic spine disorder and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his chronic headaches, thoracolumbar spine DDD, and lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted. The specific rating assigned varies based on the date of onset or progression of each condition.

The Board has found that the VA examinations are inadequate and remands both claims for further development.

The Veteran's right hip osteoarthritis was granted service connection and an effective date of the grant is set.,An effective date prior to February 5, 2018 for the grant of service connection for tension headaches is denied. The Veteran submitted a formal claim on April 27, 2018.,The Veteran's initial claims for left ear hearing loss and back disability are remanded as his current level or nature of these disabilities may not be reflective of the evidence of record.,The Veteran's neck disability is also remanded as his current level or nature of this disability may not be reflective of the evidence of record.,The Veteran's initial claim for tension headaches is remanded as his current level or nature of this disability may not be reflective of the evidence of record.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability to include degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his degenerative changes of the lumbar spine were remanded due to inadequate medical examinations and failure to consider functional loss during flare-ups or after repetitive use.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent from October 13, 2009 to March 6, 2015. The rating for the back disability remains at 40 percent during the entire period on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for a back condition as the evidence did not show it was incurred in or aggravated by service.