Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to June 16, 2020.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted a 40 percent rating prior to March 22, 2022. The issues of service connection for sleep apnea, cervical spine disability, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and functional gastrointestinal disorder were all granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, finding no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his active military service.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for a right ankle disability and service connection for a lower back condition are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations.

The appeal for service connection for a disability of the low back is dismissed.,The appeal for service connection for a disability of the bilateral ankles is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral plantar hyperkeratosis and lumbosacral strain due to outstanding private treatment records from the Veterans Choice program.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition has been reopened and granted.,Service connection is also granted for tinnitus, ear condition (claimed as acoustic neuroma), and left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's low back disability and associated radiculopathies are now rated at 20 percent effective June 12, 2017. The right leg-length discrepancy is not compensable, and the left and right ankle disabilities are each rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudicative action regarding service connection claims for various disabilities, including low back, right foot, left foot, right knee/leg, and left knee/leg disabilities. The Veteran contends these disabilities are related to an in-service parachute accident during airborne training.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disorder and its relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied an initial compensable rating for residuals of a vaginal cyst excision and remanded claims for low back disorder, vertigo, and acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to service-connected TBI residuals.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, neck condition, right shoulder condition, and back condition due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has dismissed the claim as moot because the Veteran's thoracolumbar disability, including a C7-T1 fusion, was granted service connection in an April 2022 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete examinations and failure to address critical evaluation criteria.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations in the past.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar-thoracic strain and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, have resulted in significant limitations that preclude locomotion without the aid of braces or canes. As a result, he is eligible for specially adapted housing but not for special home adaptation grants.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disorder, right and left knee disorders, bilateral hearing loss, and a psychiatric disorder. The case is being returned to VA for further development.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of current hearing loss.,The Veteran's appendectomy scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under VA regulations.,The Veteran's TBI, PTSD, and related conditions are remanded due to missing service treatment records.,The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and thoracic/lumbar spine arthritis, cervical spine disability, tinnitus, fibromyalgia, migraine headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and psychiatric disorder are all remanded for further development.,The Veteran's right foot disability, left foot disability, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability are also remanded due to missing service treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine spondylosis with fusion and chronic back condition as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.