Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and lumbar spine disability. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for either condition.

The claim for a higher evaluation for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine has been dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis with sclerosis of the right SI joint is presumed to be related to his service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), a lower back condition, right and left knee conditions, right foot frostbite, left foot frostbite, right hand frostbite, left hand frostbite, tinea versicolor with tinea pedis, and status-post fracture of the left fourth finger with osteoarthritis. The Veteran is to be scheduled for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities, but granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lower back disability is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that his condition did not meet the criteria for establishing service connection due to lack of in-service incurrence or aggravation and insufficient evidence linking his current condition to service.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and low back strain, but has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral wrist disability, nasal disability, and initial compensable rating for hypertension. The Veteran's dermatitis case is also being remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeals to reopen his claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and insomnia/sleep disturbance.,However, these claims are still pending as they have not been decided on their merits.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disk disease and foraminal narrowing was denied. The appeal for TDIU based on the same disability was also dismissed as moot due to the grant of a total schedular (100%) disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was not present during service or within one year of discharge, and there is no evidence linking it to his active duty. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease is rated at 10 percent, but the Board has remanded for further evaluation due to limited range of motion.

The Veteran's back disability is related to his active service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions, and a new VA examination is required for an addendum opinion regarding the onset and etiology of the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint and disc disease, is granted service connection.,Service connection for arthritis of the elbows, wrists, hips, ankles, and feet is denied. The condition did not have its onset in service or within a year of service.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's cervical spine disability and has remanded the issue of service connection for numbness of the face. The case is now being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right shoulder disability and a lower back disability due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's lumbar facet atrophy and sacroiliitis are being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records from a private doctor and scheduling another VA examination to assess the current severity of her disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an increased rating for left knee disability. The claim for service connection of PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders is remanded.,The Veteran was granted a TDIU, but this issue is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim for PTSD and other acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and TBI, finding no evidence of these conditions during active duty or within one year post-service. The Veteran's claims were not supported by medical records linking the disabilities to his military service.