Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back degenerative disc disease, including whether it is related to service or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and IVDS are rated at a 40 percent evaluation from November 23, 2009, to February 29, 2016.

The Board has ordered a remand for further development due to the need for an in-person examination of the Veteran's service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy and low back disability. The issues are related to determining appropriate initial ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's headaches are not service-connected, as they are considered a symptom of his service-connected PTSD.,Service connection is granted for moderate restrictive ventilation disorder (previously characterized as breathing problems), low back disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is now rated at 70 percent from October 1, 2017. The appeal for increased ratings and service connection for other conditions remains pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a headache disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), a back disorder, and a bilateral eye disorder due to scheduling issues with VA examinations. The inextricably intertwined issue of total disability rating based on individual unemployability is also being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there is no evidence of a causal relationship between his current condition and his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disability, sensorineural left ear hearing loss, and sensorineural right ear hearing loss due to incomplete information from VA examiners.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues of service connection for back disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and both feet disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the nature of the Veteran's service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the previous VA examination. The Veteran needs a new examination to determine if any current back disorders are proximately due or the result of his service-connected bilateral knee disability, and whether they have been aggravated by it.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back disorder, PTSD, tension headaches, and fibromyalgia due to lack of new and relevant evidence. The Veteran's claim for a back disorder was previously denied in August 2006 as there was no evidence of an in-service event or disease that caused her current condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of an opinion regarding the etiology of the low back disorder. A new medical opinion is required.

The Board has denied service connection for a low back condition and remanded the hearing loss claim due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral flat feet, right knee status post meniscus tear, and thoracolumbar spine disc herniation were not service connected as they did not have their onset during or within one year after service. The Board found no evidence of aggravation of the pre-existing conditions during service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the condition and active duty service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error in the previous VA examination, which did not address all theories of service connection and potential aggravation.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a low back disability due to an inadequate examination report. The Veteran's current low back disability is being reviewed again with the aim of obtaining a new medical opinion.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of hearing loss for VA purposes.,Left ear hearing loss is granted as the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether it had its onset during service.

The Board has vacated the decision regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability due to an error in not addressing his argument that it is related to his service-connected pes planus. The case is now remanded for further action, including another VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD claim has been granted with a 70% rating effective November 4, 2016. The Board has remanded the remaining service connection claims for further development.