Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as presumptively related to herbicide agent exposure during service. The low back disability and prostate disability are denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right hip, left hip, right leg radiculopathy, and left leg radiculopathy disabilities. The evidence does not establish a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cold injury residuals of both lower extremities has been granted, but the effective date is being remanded due to procedural issues. The issue of secondary service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lower lumbar spine due to scoliosis with lumbar strain is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck and back disorders due to insufficient opinions regarding whether her current conditions are related to military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by his in-service injury. However, the low back condition was denied due to lack of a direct or secondary nexus.

The Board denied service connection for neck and low back disabilities, but granted a TDIU based on PTSD since June 25, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case for a new retrospective medical opinion to address the Veteran's lumbar spine disability during the period between October 17, 2008 and November 21, 2014. The opinion should consider flare-ups and whether they result in the functional equivalent of ankylosis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence showing an in-service injury and hospitalization. The claims will be further evaluated with additional medical records and a psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a back disorder, an increased rating for residuals of a right hernia, and an earlier effective date (EED) prior to April 3, 2016, for the award of service connection for residual scar related to the service-connected right hernia. The claim is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected right hernia.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection because the benefits have already been granted in a previous rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease (arthritis) and right hand arthritis, but denied service connection for left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate findings from a previous VA examination and in order to address issues related to TDIU.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for vitiligo and service connection for a left knee disorder are dismissed. Service connection for depression and anxiety is granted, with an initial 20 percent rating for lumbar disc disease from May 2, 2016 to January 23, 2020.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability does not meet VA criteria for a service connection.,Service connection is granted for migraine headaches, with evidence at least in equipoise regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 26, 2010 for hearing loss was granted.,An increased rating of 50 percent for PTSD prior to June 1, 2012 was granted.,Increased ratings were denied for PTSD from June 1, 2012 to March 14, 2017 and from March 15, 2017 onwards.,A compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to March 13, 2017 was granted.,Increased ratings were denied for bilateral hearing loss from March 13, 2017 onwards.,Service connection for various disabilities including back disability, left leg and foot disabilities, right leg and foot disabilities, as well as TDIU prior to March 13, 2017 was remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral vision disability and mid to low back disability due to insufficient medical evidence of record. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to assess the etiology of his claimed disabilities, specifically whether they are related to service or environmental hazards.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims regarding his service-connected lumbar spine and left knee disabilities, as the current evaluations are inadequate due to missing range of motion assessments.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability due to a lack of adequate VA medical opinions and because updated VA treatment records were not obtained until after the new VA medical opinions had been procured.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to December 29, 2000 is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a determination of whether extraschedular consideration is warranted.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to June 22, 2019 is remanded due to the need for a retrospective medical opinion on her employability.