Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for back disability, claimed as chronic low back pain due to insufficient evidence in the current record. The Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms during and after service are considered, but a VA examiner is needed to provide an opinion on whether the condition is related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including back disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, Parkinson's disease, sleep disorder, sinus disability, nocturia, altered gait, right ear growth, left knee strain, gynecomastia, inguinal hernia, priapism, bilateral pulmonary embolism, parotid neoplasms, and hepatitis C have been denied. The Board found no evidence of service connection or secondary service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine disability and associated right lower extremity radiculopathy due to outstanding private treatment records not being obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to address service connection and rating issues related to COPD, low back disorder, left knee strain, and left knee instability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability has been reopened, but the Board has decided to remand it due to insufficient evidence. The case will be reviewed again with an additional examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service. The effective date of this decision is not specified.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and degenerative changes, finding that the condition originated during active service.

The Board dismissed the issue of service connection for headaches as moot due to a December 2018 rating decision granting service connection with an effective date of July 10, 2017. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination addressing the Veteran's statements and 1976 records. Another VA examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, low back disability, left knee tendonitis, and traumatic arthritis of bilateral big toes due to incomplete examination reports and lack of range of motion testing.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's knee, back, ankle sprain, cluster headaches, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities. The examinations will help determine if the Veteran's service-connected conditions have worsened since his last evaluations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss due to failure of the Veteran to report for scheduled VA examinations. The issues are now pending before the Board.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and medical opinions are not adequate, necessitating further clarification of the medical evidence regarding the etiology and pathophysiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine DDD was granted an initial rating of 20 percent, effective October 1, 2011. A higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back injury and head injury have been reopened, with new evidence showing current diagnoses of lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, as well as continuity of symptoms since in-service injuries. The claim for bilateral hearing loss has not met VA criteria.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disorder, tinnitus, lumbar spine disorder, residuals of head injury (including memory loss), and headaches have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's cervical degenerative disc disease is related to a vehicle hit improvised explosive device (IED) incident during service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities are granted. Service connection is also granted for diabetes mellitus, type II. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder degenerative joint disease is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for Morton's neuroma of the right foot has been denied as the current rating adequately reflects his disability.,A compensable rating is granted for the painful scar on the right hand, with no greater than 10 percent assigned.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for lower back disability was granted. His claims for increased ratings and separate ratings for knee subluxation or instability were also granted, but the issue of service connection for bilateral ankle disabilities remains remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability, hypothyroidism, back disability, right arm disorder, left arm disorder, left hip disability, right hip disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has established service connection for these conditions based on exposure to herbicide agents.