Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety disorder has been dismissed as the condition was already granted in a prior rating decision.,Service connection is granted for degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, with consideration given to continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has ordered a new medical opinion due to the previous VA examiners' opinions not being compliant with the remand instructions and failing to account for earlier treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical DDD/DJD and radiculopathy of the right upper extremity associated with cervical DDD and DJD due to service, as well as any aggravation by his service-connected bilateral knee disability. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted a 40% rating effective November 12, 2021. The claim for PTSD and heart disorder service connection is remanded.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for right knee disability, right knee instability, and lumbar spine disability are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition, diagnosed as lumbosacral strain with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were coincident with his active duty service and are related to his service-connected left total knee replacement.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on all issues have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected adjustment disorder with alcohol use, lumbosacral spine disability, left knee disability, and left knee scar are being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA eligibility are granted effective January 1, 2017. The decision is based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities impacting his ability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and thoracic and lumbar spine, finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and GERD due to additional development needed.

The Veteran's lumbar spine, right knee, left shoulder, and right ankle disabilities are all rated lower than the maximum allowed. The Board has remanded these cases for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and will need to obtain additional treatment information before making a decision on service connection for back disability.

The Board denied service connection for an umbilical hernia disability and remanded the issue of entitlement to a higher initial disability rating for a lower back disability.

The Board denied service connection for low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, due to exposure to herbicides is granted. The Board finds the Veteran had service in Korea near the DMZ and was exposed to herbicide agents during his active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board found that there was no evidence of a chronic back disability in service or within one year post-service, and that any current back disability is not related to service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection claims due to his withdrawal of appeal, except for a full grant of GERD service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the inadequacy of a recent VA examination, as well as the need to obtain Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability renders them unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to February 26, 2020. The Board has referred the matter for extraschedular TDIU consideration.