Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity of care and insufficient link between his current condition and military service.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's service-connected spondylosis of the thoracolumbar spine, finding that the evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis and thus only a 40 percent rating was warranted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disability, which may be related to service.

The Veteran's lumbar strain is rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.,The Veteran's major depressive disorder with panic disorder and agoraphobia has been granted a disability evaluation of 100 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including recurrent low back strain and right lower extremity neuropathy, precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to January 26, 2010. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and granted an increased rating of 30 percent for folliculitis from July 3, 2019. The decision also remanded several other issues.,Service connection was not established for the Veteran's low back disorder as there was no evidence linking it to her military service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for right knee limitation of extension was denied. The claim for service connection for neck disorder was also denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease, and the current condition did not manifest within one year of separation from service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions. The claims include service connection for a right wrist disability, including compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, and service connection for a low back disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and low back disabilities, as well as his increased rating claim for right knee arthritis, were denied. The TDIU claim was also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the lumbosacral spine, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to service. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to his active service, but needs further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to insufficient development and potential competency issues with the VA examiners.

The Board has found that the VA did not substantially comply with its prior remand directives for this claim, and thus the case is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, low back disability, and erectile dysfunction have been reopened due to new and material evidence. The remaining issues are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS).

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of low back disability has been dismissed due to their death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete VA examinations and failure to address specific remand directives.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a heart disability is denied, and his claims for increased ratings are all denied. The Board finds no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions of in-service exposure to herbicides or other incidents that would warrant presumptive service connection.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided in October 2019 were inadequate for adjudicative purposes. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to provide addendum VA medical opinions addressing the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including right ear hearing loss, low back condition, left knee condition, left hip condition, cholecystitis, and GERD.