Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for various conditions as it lacks jurisdiction due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for left knee disorder and lower back disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, and the Board is remanding his claims for a skin condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received. The issues of service connection for bilateral shin splints, lumbar spine disorder, left ankle disorder, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and anger disorder) are now before the Board.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea has been withdrawn. The claims for asthma, back condition, and bilateral knee condition are remanded to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar strain had its onset during his honorable service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance due to wearing of a back brace in 2016 is denied because the brace does not cause irreparable damage to clothing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back and neck conditions, finding that there was no evidence linking these disabilities to his active-duty service.,The Veteran also had his claim for TDIU denied as he did not meet the schedular criteria under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) for a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,These issues include evaluations for degenerative osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and femoral nerve peripheral neuropathy.

Service connection for left and right carpal tunnel syndrome has been granted.,The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a neck disorder and a back disorder due to potential service causation or aggravation.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection and rating of disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the ratings for low back disability and left hip disabilities, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine fracture residuals and a medical opinion on the need for aid and attendance and/or other special monthly compensation.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD), status post compression of L1, was denied as the Veteran failed to appear for a necessary VA examination without good cause shown.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities due to a motor vehicle collision in service. The case is sent back for further examination and opinions regarding the relationship between the current disabilities and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his service-connected left Achilles tendon rupture status post repair and lumbar back strain, finding that there were no documents indicating an intent to file a claim prior to January 16, 2013.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a low back disorder due to insufficient evidence in the record, including the lack of a nexus between current symptoms and service.