Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration disability benefit records and VA treatment records. The Veteran is also to be scheduled for an examination to determine the nature and severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and right lumbar radiculopathy. The case is remanded to determine if the Veteran's left lower extremity neurological condition is secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's back, neck, and sinusitis disabilities are granted service connection. Service connection for OSA is remanded due to insufficient evidence linking it to PTSD or sinusitis. Service connection for a left arm nerve condition is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a heart condition was dismissed. Service connection for his low back disability is granted, and the issue of service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to his low back disability is remanded. The claim for service connection for an ear condition is also remanded.

The Veteran's low back strain with complaints of muscle spasm was granted a rating of 40 percent effective August 10, 2021. Prior to this date, the condition had been rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's back disability is not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service. The examiner found that the current back disability is unrelated to his in-service injury.,The Veteran's psychiatric disability (depression) did not manifest during service and is not shown to be causally related to an in-service event.

The Board has decided that there is not enough evidence to determine if the Veteran's upper back disability, including thoracolumbar and cervical spine strain, is related to his military service. The case will be sent back for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for major depressive disorder, bilateral hand problems, back disability, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further medical examinations. The issues include lumbar spine, knee, ankle, colon cancer, kidney disability (chronic renal failure), and Type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection due to the appellant's death.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability due to new and material evidence received since April 2012. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining an adequate VA examination and private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee arthrotomy with scar and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The examinations need to comply with the requirements set forth in Sharp v. Shulkin, 29 Vet. App. 26 (2017), and Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158 (2016).

The Veteran's cervical spine disability with associated bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy is granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of the lumbar spine disability prior to May 15, 2019, is also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a recurrent lumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition started in service and has continued since then. The decision is based on the Veteran's lay statements of symptoms from active duty.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, benign prostatic hypertrophy, memory disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, lumbar spine disability (chronic low back pain), chronic cervical strain, allergic rhinitis, gastrointestinal disabilities, colon diverticulosis, and degenerative joint diseases of multiple joints. The Board found no evidence to support service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss and lumbar disorder, back pain, degenerative arthritis due to new evidence of worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on need for aid and attendance or being housebound is remanded due to the lack of clear evidence regarding his current medical condition and treatment records. The VA needs to conduct a new examination to determine if his service-connected disabilities contribute to his need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar strain (claimed as lower back injury) due to new and material evidence. The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted.,The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar strain (claimed as lower back injury). A new VA examination is needed to determine if his current condition is related to service.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a low back disorder, to include as secondary to service-connected right or left knee patella chondromalacia due to inadequate reasoning regarding whether the Veteran's low back disability was aggravated beyond its natural progression by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.