Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for liver disability, neck disability, and low back disability due to insufficient evidence. The claims for OSA are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back and neck disorders due to a lack of medical opinions addressing their onset during ACDUTRA or their relation to such service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of her service-connected back disability, including during flare-ups or after repeated use over time. The examiner should also provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's level of impairment amounts to functional ankylosis.

The Board has found that the VA medical opinions did not substantially comply with the February 2021 Board remand directives and has therefore ordered further development for the issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart disorder, cervical spine disorder, and lumbar spine disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and a higher rating for his thoracolumbar degenerative joint disease and lumbosacral strain, finding no competent evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various spine and foot disorders due to incomplete records and a change in address.

Service connection granted for a headache disorder and lower back disorder.,Service connection denied for a right shoulder disorder. Bilateral hearing loss and left ankle disorder claims are dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and secondary service connection for a back disability. The claim for entitlement to a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for migraine headaches, including as secondary to his lumbosacral spondylosis, was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of migraines related to his military service or service-connected condition.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease and patellofemoral symptoms with chondromalacia of the left and right knees are not rated higher than 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for SMC due to his service-connected disabilities, and it is unclear if he qualifies for higher levels of SMC based on his current conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, including degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the spine, and a left knee disability, including ostearthritis of the knee status post total knee replacement. The Veteran's claims were not granted as his conditions are not shown to be related to service.,Service connection was also denied for residuals of a traumatic brain injury.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for service connection for PTSD, hypertension, diabetes, thoracolumbar disability, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities due to new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a back disability, right ankle and hip/knee disabilities, and a sleep disability. The issues are related to whether these conditions are directly related to the Veteran's military service or other previously service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition has been reopened. A rating in excess of 10 percent prior to March 26, 2021, for his lumbar spine condition is denied. A 20 percent rating for the lumbar spine condition from March 26, 2021, and a separate 10 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy are granted. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for GERD, panic disorder, and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and a low back disorder due to new evidence received since the October 2018 statement of the case. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for tinnitus as her current condition is not related to service, but her claim for a low back disorder must be remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is related to his time in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to January 11, 2013 is remanded due to the possibility that he may be unemployable by reason of service-connected disabilities. The case will be referred to the Director, Compensation Service, for extraschedular consideration.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee and ankle conditions, as well as a back condition. The claims are being remanded due to the need for VA examinations and the possibility of additional evidence.