Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there is no evidence of a direct or secondary relationship to his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements and the impact of his service-connected PTSD on his employability. The case will be returned for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current condition and his military service. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran’s degenerative lumbar spondylosis is not related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding service connection for a back disability. The Veteran's statements of having back pain related to service, as well as her VA examiner's note in 1976, are considered. An additional examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's low back disability. The Veteran is required to provide records of his treatment and VA must secure them for review by a clinician who will provide an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 40 percent for the period from April 23, 2019 to October 11, 2020. Effective October 12, 2020, his left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve are each rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The initial rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine remains at 20 percent.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings for various disabilities, including psoriatic arthritis, kidney disorder, left shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and right ankle disability. The issues were withdrawn by the Veteran through his attorney.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development and an addendum VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is related to service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for tension headaches, bilateral foot disability, and back disability due to issues with compliance with previous orders and the need for additional evidence.

The Board has decided that additional medical records are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disability, and thus remands the case for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis due to the lack of evidence linking the condition to active duty service.,The Board has remanded the claims for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine at L4-L5 and L5-S1 and left ankle chondromalacia, as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine disc disease status post laminectomy is remanded due to inadequate examination findings. The TDIU claim prior to May 28, 2013, is also remanded as there is evidence suggesting the Veteran may be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no further action can be taken on these matters.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for entitlement to higher ratings and earlier effective dates for back disability, neck disability, and headache disability.,The appeal of radiculopathy, left upper extremity, is granted with an effective date of June 4, 2014.

The Veteran's low back condition and migraine disabilities have been rated at 40 percent since January 12, 2018. A TDIU rating has also been granted for the period from September 23, 2011 to January 11, 2018 on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development of her medical records.

The Veteran's low back disability and PTSD have been granted service connection. The right knee disability is being remanded for further development.,Service connection has been established for the Veteran’s low back strain, diagnosed as lumbosacral strain, due to a period of active duty training (ACDUTRA). Service connection has also been granted for her PTSD, which she claims was caused by military sexual trauma during ACDUTRA. The right knee disability is being remanded because additional evidence or clarification is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate January 2019 VA examination, which did not measure limitations in range of motion during flare-ups. The Veteran is requested to provide addendum opinions regarding functional loss and limitation of motion during flare-ups.