Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's low back disability is related to his military service. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded four issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities: PTSD, low back strain with degenerative changes, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and recurrent right ankle sprain. The remand requires VA to obtain treatment records from the Taylor Street Vet Center in Washington, D.C., and to schedule the Veteran for examinations by appropriate clinicians to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity in service or within one year after separation. The examiner opined that the Veteran's condition is more likely due to post-service work injuries.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to the need for updated examinations and additional records, including VA and private treatment records. The claims include cervical arthritis, lumbar arthritis, hepatitis C, type II diabetes mellitus (DM), a left neck scar, and SMC based on aid and attendance needs.

Service connection for fibromyositis of the lumbosacral spine was restored, and the issues of service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, gastritis, and esophagitis are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical records and insufficient rationale in the previous decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's low back disorder is related to his in-service fall. The examiner must address the Veteran's statements, service treatment records, and a private physician's opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability has been reopened and remanded due to the presence of new evidence showing lumbar degenerative disc disease.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disability remains denied as no new material evidence was received.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's sciatica, right lower extremity is now rated at 40 percent effective July 7, 2021. The low back strain with degenerative disc disease remains rated at 40 percent. The rating for sciatica prior to December 2, 2019 was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence added since the July 2020 SOC and because of outstanding STRs. The Veteran's low back disability is being reviewed again for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for this condition. However, the low back disability was not found to be related to active duty service.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine disability and right knee disability, both claimed as secondary to left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.,The Veteran's claims were remanded but not fully resolved.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issues of service connection for back, right knee, and left knee disorders due to a lack of adequate medical opinion regarding their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and left hip disabilities as secondary to a service-connected left knee disability, finding that both conditions are caused by or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate examination and potential outstanding VA treatment records. A new medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was incurred in service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left ankle disability, back disability, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, and left lower extremity radiculopathy was granted. The rating assigned is 60 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, right hip, and left hip disabilities due to duty-related injuries during military service. The VA medical opinions are inadequate as they did not consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding symptom onset and continuity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence of current disabilities and lack of a nexus between his claimed conditions and military service.