Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's left knee and back disabilities are granted service connection, while his acquired psychiatric disability is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his service connection claim for sleep apnea and the rating of his low back disorder.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of neck, right shoulder, left thumb, and middle finger laceration disorders. The low back disorder claim was also dismissed.,The Veteran's hearing loss disability is not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of his claims for increased ratings for right foot bunion/hallux valgus with arthritis, left foot status-post bunionectomy with hallux valgus and arthritis, and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD).

The Veteran's service connection claims for left and right ear disabilities, hearing loss, recurrent ear infections, ruptured ear drum, lumbar degenerative disc disease, tinea corporis, right foot disability, and left foot disability have been denied.,Service connection was granted for lumbar degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's claims for cervical and thoracic spine disabilities have been granted, so the issues are dismissed as moot.,The Veteran's lung disability (sarcoidosis with lung calcification and granuloma) and kidney cysts claims require additional medical opinions to determine if they are related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for a left shoulder nerve condition and remanded the issue of service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability. The Veteran's current conditions are not shown to be related to his service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension and diabetes mellitus, type II have been granted due to the PACT Act. The claim for a back disability (claimed as a laminectomy) is denied. The TDIU claim is also denied.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to July 1, 2017 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea claim is denied, and the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability are remanded due to procedural errors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right and left knee conditions, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and low back condition due to potential errors in duty to assist. The Veteran is required to undergo a VA examination to determine the likely etiology of his diagnosed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left inguinal hernia with hernia repair, low back strain, and right shoulder injury as the evidence did not support a nexus to service.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, headache disability, and sleep disability as secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence linking these conditions to his military service or the service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating increase for her lumbar spine condition and service connection for left hip sciatica due to her lumbar spine condition. The Veteran will need new VA examinations to determine the current severity of her conditions and their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for dextroscoliosis, DDD, IVDS, and spinal stenosis. The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is also considered service connected.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis have been granted. The Board found the evidence in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that additional evidence was added to the record and remands several issues for further review, including service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate examination and new evidence. The issues of higher evaluations for chronic lumbosacral strain and TDIU are now before the Board.