Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the impact of the Veteran's back disability and radiculopathy on his ability to work.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability characterized as degenerative disc disease and psoriatic arthritis of the cervical spine, finding that the Veteran's symptoms have been chronic since service.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left wrist disability, and right wrist disability due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is granted as his condition had its onset during his military service.

The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for a low back disability is granted. The Board finds that further development is necessary for proper adjudication of the claim.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right-hand disability, and left-hand disability as the Veteran did not provide evidence of an in-service injury or disease affecting his hands.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, low back disability, and left ankle disability are remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions due to the appellant's death.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a back disorder and TDIU due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the onset and relationship of the Veteran's current back disorders to his active duty. The case is returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disorders are granted as service connected.,The Veteran's tinnitus, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and need for updated medical opinions. The issues include seeking higher ratings for various service-connected conditions, obtaining earlier effective dates for certain awards of service connection, and determining whether a TDIU is warranted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for further medical opinions. The right ankle, bilateral pes planus, back disability (secondary), and left knee disability (secondary) claims will be addressed again.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability and remanded the issue of an initial compensable rating for eczema.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to insufficient evidence, including a need for new VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss, scar removal of cyst on buttocks, squamous cell carcinoma, back disability, and epididymitis have been denied. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD) has also been denied.,However, the claim for a back disability was reopened due to new evidence provided since the last denial.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a tailbone injury, left hip disorder, and low back disorder due to insufficient evidence in the record. The RO is instructed to obtain missing service treatment records and provide new medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral ankle, knee, and low back disabilities as well as headaches secondary to PTSD due to inadequate medical opinions in the previous VA examinations.,Further development is needed to determine if the Veteran currently has a bilateral ankle disability, whether it began during service, and its relationship to his active duty.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's lumbar spine disability existed prior to service and whether any increase in severity during service was due to natural progression.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his lumbar degenerative disc disease with thoracic degenerative disc disease and associated lower extremity radiculopathy was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for these conditions.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's disability ratings and TDIU claim due to incomplete records from Social Security Administration (SSA). The SSA records may provide evidence of worsening in the Veteran's back and right ankle disabilities, which could affect these claims.