Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient evidence in the record, including a lack of VA or private treatment records from April 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and residuals of traumatic brain injury due to additional evidence added to the file by VA.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development regarding his service-connected lumbosacral strain, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, right shoulder impingement syndrome, and right lower extremity sciatica.

New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection of various disabilities, including neck disability (cervical spine degenerative disc disease), lumbar spine condition, left elbow condition, right elbow condition, left hand numbness disability, right hand numbness disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and ischemic heart disease (IHD).

The Board denied service connection for chronic pain syndrome, cervicalgia (upper back condition), lower back disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to exposure to herbicide agents or asbestos.,Service connection was remanded for coronary artery disease.

The Board has expanded the Veteran's PTSD claim to include an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and anxiety. The claims for cataracts in both eyes and a lower back disability are remanded due to need for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection related to bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, low back condition, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy require additional development due to a lack of VA examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and right hand disability due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were caused or aggravated by his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder, as well as to address his claims for an initial compensable rating for herpes and TDIU prior to May 21, 2021.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical and lumbar spine disorders due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of her disabilities during service.

The Veteran's low back disorder does not meet the criteria for an initial rating higher than 10 percent, as his range of motion is within the limits allowed by the current disability rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings due to incomplete evidence and requests that additional development be conducted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for psoriatic arthritis, degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine, left shoulder, and left knee were denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has withdrawn the issues of entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for a right long finger disability and entitlement to TDIU. The Veteran's pericallosal midline lipoma of the brain is granted with consideration of aggravation during service. Additional VA examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the back disability, diplopia, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right foot disability, left foot disability, and low back disability due to incomplete records and need for further medical examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate examination findings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and lumbar spine disability due to conflicting medical opinions. The Veteran's GERD claim is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of GERD.

Service connection for a left knee condition is granted.,Service connection for a lumbar spine condition, as secondary to the left knee condition, is granted.,Service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, as secondary to the lumbar spine condition, is granted.,A rating of 30 percent disabling, but no greater, for a left shoulder disability beginning January 10, 2020 is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and/or depression due to lack of a VA examination. The claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder and right shoulder disorder remain in their final status as new and material evidence was not received.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder and a lower back disorder, finding that there was no evidence of chronic disorders during or after service.