Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is found to be the primary cause of his right knee and lumbar spine disabilities, leading to a grant of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claim for a left leg disability other than radiculopathy. The previously denied claims of service connection for degenerative disc disease L5-S1 and bilateral leg numbness have been reopened, but the case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these issues. The Veteran's right knee condition remains under review.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims due to inadequate statements of reasons or bases in previous decisions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and vertigo due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is asked to provide additional evidence or treatment records, and VA will obtain them on his behalf.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including for VA examinations to assess the current severity of his lumbar spine and right knee disabilities. The examinations were not conducted in a manner that complied with the requirements set forth in Sharp v. Shulkin.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a lumbar spine disability, finding that there is no causal relationship between his current back disabilities and active service or his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Veteran's lumbar strain is now rated at 40 percent, effective from September 17, 2021. The other conditions remain unchanged.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, finding no evidence of current disability related to service. Service connection was granted for allergic rhinitis.,The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was reopened due to new and material evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disorder and groin injury residuals due to insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinions. The Veteran is required to provide additional evidence or undergo further examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's rhinitis does not warrant a compensable evaluation, and has remanded the issue of service connection for his low back condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and degenerative disc disease before a decision was made.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis, and spinal fusion residuals as these conditions originated during active service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and low back disorders are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's low back disorder is granted service connection. The initial rating for PTSD has been granted at 70%, but the case is remanded to determine if a higher evaluation is warranted.

The Board has denied a higher disability evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar strain. The case is remanded to determine if there are any issues related to bruxism and partial loss of teeth that may warrant further review.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and TDIU have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for intervertebral disc syndrome, lumbar spine, with segmental instability and degenerative arthritis (claimed as a back condition) and right lower sciatic radiculopathy due to additional VA treatment records being added to the claims file.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left shoulder, and thoracolumbar spine disabilities have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, these claims remain denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking any current disability to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with previous remand directives regarding the relationship between the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and his service-connected bilateral foot and knee disabilities. The claim will be reconsidered based on a new medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and xerosis due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The conditions are presumed based on the Veteran's presence in Vietnam.