Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that further development is needed regarding the service connection for lumbar spine degeneration secondary to right ankle injury, and thus the appeal is being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD, lumbar spine disability, left sciatic nerve disability, and back scar.

The Board has granted service connection for a skin disability, but denied service connection for back disability, hypertension, and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck disability, right hip disability, and back disability due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection. The left elbow disability claim is not related to secondary service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, increased rating, and adaptive equipment are remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral disc disease, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for PTSD as there is no credible supporting evidence that an in-service stressor occurred. For her right hip, back, and wrist disabilities, additional medical opinions are needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient evidence to assess current severity of the Veteran's disabilities and to determine if there is a link between her hip/pelvic disability and her service-connected lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to incomplete personnel records and unverified in-service stressors. Additional opinions are needed regarding the relationship between his disabilities and service.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is granted a disability rating of 40 percent as of February 2, 2022. The other conditions are not rated higher.

The Board has remanded the claims for a low back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and bilateral foot disability due to open medical questions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's partial lumbar sacralization is determined to be a congenital defect with no superimposed disease or injury during service. For his left and right knee disabilities, the Board finds remand necessary for new opinions on their onset in service and relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's varicocele is granted as secondary to his service-connected erectile dysfunction. The Board has also remanded for further examination and evaluation of the Veteran's left ankle, lumbar spine condition, right scaphoid fracture, left scaphoid fracture, left knee, bilateral pes planus, and sleep apnea.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for chronic low back disability and right hip disability due to new evidence received. The cases are now remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal disabilities, including hip, ankle, foot, and back conditions. The appeals are being returned to the AOJ for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received since the last final denial. The Veteran's claim for service connection of a lower back disability is being reopened, but further medical examination and opinion are needed.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability but has remanded his claim of service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to his thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the issue of whether the Veteran's back disability is related to his service, as there are insufficient medical records linking it to his time in the military. The case will be returned for further development and an updated opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hallux rigidus has been remanded due to new evidence. Service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and spondylosis in the lumbar spine and L4-5 central spinal stenosis have been denied.,Service connection was not granted for bilateral hallux rigidus, but the Veteran's claim is reopened.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for a low back disability and COPD due to the need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (asthma, bilateral hearing loss, chronic lumbosacral strain, degenerative osteoarthritic and disc narrowing, and status post excision of leukoplakia of the lower lip with one painful residual scar) rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to December 1, 2015. The Veteran also had basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 prior to December 1, 2015.