Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

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

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities due to incomplete or inaccurate factual premises in previous VA examination opinions. The Veteran will be provided with another VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of her diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records from 1981 to 2007. The effective date of the sciatica rating remains March 7, 2005.

The Board has remanded the cases due to concerns about the adequacy of VA examinations and the need for additional development regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back condition and left hip condition.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD with anxiety and depressed mood, is rated at 50 percent. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted.,The Veteran’s TDIU claim has been remanded due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities as secondary to bilateral pes planus, and for a low back disability as secondary to bilateral pes planus. The claim of service connection for a cervical spine disability is denied. Service connection for a respiratory disability is reopened.

The Board has remanded the claims due to unclear medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current lumbar spine and left knee disorders are related to service. Clarification is needed from VA clinicians.

The Board has denied service connection for various disabilities, including right wrist, left wrist, neck, right shoulder, and back conditions, finding that the evidence does not support a link between these conditions and military service.

The Board denied service connection for a left hip disability, to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities. It also denied initial and increased ratings for lumbar spine strain and left ankle sprain. The case was remanded for further development regarding bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for B cell lymphoma, left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, right hip disability, and chronic low back disability with degenerative joint disease due to secondary service-connected left hip disability. The VA is required to obtain Social Security Administration records and provide additional medical opinions regarding the relationship of these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's back condition is related to service, including his in-service symptoms and post-service progression.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine is rated at 20 percent as of April 2016, with no higher rating granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease, cervical degenerative disc disease, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy have all been granted.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, finding that the evidence does not support a nexus between the Veteran's current condition and his active service or service-connected left hip trochanteric bursitis.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is service connected. The other claims for Parkinson’s disease, tremors of the head and hands, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to lack of updated medical records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal disorders and hypertension, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis B, left knee disability, back disability, and acquired psychiatric disability were denied as there was no new and material evidence to reopen the hepatitis claim. The left knee and back disabilities are not service-connected due to lack of a current diagnosis or medical etiology.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is rated at a 20 percent disability level since November 13, 2018. This rating reflects his limited range of motion and frequent flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the claims for residuals of a right fifth finger injury with slight hypoalgesia, chronic back disability, hypertension, diverticulitis, gastrointestinal bleeding, gastrointestinal polyps, gastrointestinal hemorrhoids, constipation, enlarged prostate, urinary retention, anemia, and high cholesterol due to missing VA records.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's low back disability did not begin during service and is not related to an in-service injury, thus denying service connection. The right leg disability issue was remanded for further development.