Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease due to inadequate VA opinions based on in-service radiographs.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding whether it was incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and a need for an addendum retrospective opinion regarding the Veteran's low back disability prior to August 24, 2021.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and additional VA medical records added to the claims file after previous SSOCs.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left hip disability, right wrist CTS, left wrist CTS, low back disability, and OSA. The most probative evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasons for denying the Veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for a back condition. The new evidence includes VA examinations and opinions from June 2021 and August 2022, as well as an opinion by a VA doctor dated July 11, 2022.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and LLE radiculopathy, but denied service connection for right wrist, left heel, right eye, and chest disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, and a reproductive disability. The rating for eczema is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence showing an in-service injury or disease and that any current condition is more likely due to natural aging process.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the cases of a low back condition and bilateral foot condition due to outstanding VA records and an opinion regarding aggravation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal disabilities and hepatitis C due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has remanded the case due to unavailability of service treatment records and outstanding private treatment records related to the Veteran's back disability. The claim will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a lumbosacral spinal fusion, residuals of a ventral hernia, and residuals of thyroid cancer are all granted. The claim for service connection for a neck disability secondary to the lumbosacral spinal fusion is remanded due to insufficient evidence. The hypertension claim is also remanded.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's right ankle sprain and back disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence of in-service causation or aggravation.,The Veteran's breathing problems are remanded as the nature and etiology need further evaluation.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted, while her skin and left ear disabilities are denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling new VA examinations to determine if the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and heart disability are related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to new complaints and the need for a VA examination.,The Veteran's back condition, hernia condition, and abdominal scar are remanded as there are missing service treatment records and a need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient nexus opinions provided by VA examiners. The issues include back condition, hypertension, jaw condition, and allergic rhinitis with intermittent episodes of acute sinusitis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative joint disease status post compression fracture with low back strain and other related conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since October 12, 2019. As such, the Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that his current condition is related to non-service-connected degenerative disc disease/degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine and diabetic neuropathy.