Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's duodenal ulcer is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board has granted a 20 percent rating. The remaining issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, back conditions, left knee conditions, right knee conditions, bilateral foot conditions, gallbladder condition, and heart condition are remanded.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, back conditions, left knee conditions, right knee conditions, bilateral foot conditions, gallbladder condition, and heart condition are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of his cervical spine disability and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathies have been withdrawn. The claims for hypertension, low back disability (lumbar degenerative arthritis), right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee disability, and respiratory condition have all been granted.,The Veteran's service connection claims for right shoulder condition, right knee condition, left foot plantar fasciitis, and left shoulder disability are being remanded. The claim for TDIU is also being remanded.,The Veteran's GERD has been granted an initial rating of 10 percent, but no higher. His PTSD claim remains denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including to corroborate in-service stressors and to obtain etiology opinions regarding service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need to verify in-service stressors and potential exposure to herbicide agents, as well as to obtain VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his back (and associated scars), left hip, and bilateral knees disorders.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to errors in the pre-decisional duty to assist and will need further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA opinion regarding the Veteran's ability to work with his service-connected disabilities, including medication effects. The Veteran is seeking TDIU based on his low back and neck disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee PPS and lumbar and thoracic strain are granted. The claim for the nature and etiology of his right foot condition is remanded.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of any of the claimed conditions, and thus service connection cannot be granted for migraine headaches, restless legs syndrome, fibromyalgia, sinusitis, sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric disorder (including sleep disturbances), neck disorder, lower back disorder, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, or right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and denied service connection for insulin deficiency syndrome. Service connection was also remanded for peripheral vascular disease, which is presumed to be related to exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete service treatment records, and further efforts are needed to obtain these records or a formal finding of unavailability must be made.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and right hip disabilities have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU. Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits is also established.

The Veteran's hypertension and cervical spine disability are being remanded for further examination to determine their etiology, with consideration of service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, back disability, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes mellitus due to incomplete medical opinions and missing service treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and right knee bursitis are being remanded for further examination to determine their current severity.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left trochanteric bursitis and lumbar spine strain. The issues include seeking higher ratings for these conditions as well as TDIU.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of all remaining issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is related to his active service, granting entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to a low back disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to a low back disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for IBS and low back strain have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and other issues, requiring further development.