Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal to establish increased ratings for right hip strain is dismissed. The claim of service connection for bruxism, secondary to temporomandibular joint dysfunction, is granted. The appeals regarding the initial disability rating for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and right elbow strain are remanded due to need for updated VA examinations. The appeal for service connection for PTSD is also remanded due to need for corroborating evidence of a stressor event.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as his now service-connected radiculopathies of the femoral and sciatic nerves of the right and left lower extremities. The VA is instructed to obtain relevant treatment records from chiropractors and physical therapists, conduct additional examinations, and readjudicate the claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation of his acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and back disorder.

The Board has remanded the claim due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the onset of the low back disability during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus and tinnitus claims are denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease, nor any causal relationship to service.,For his low back disorder claim, the AOJ has not yet decided whether new and material evidence has been submitted. The Board will remand this issue for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability is granted a 40 percent evaluation prior to December 20, 2017.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a disability of the feet and scoliosis of the thoracolumbar spine, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including VA examinations and opinions addressing the etiology of his disabilities. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various orthopedic disorders and tinnitus, but the Board notes that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or noise exposure related to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral strain was incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has dismissed all issues of service connection and rating for the Veteran's claimed conditions due to his death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a lower back disorder and left knee meniscal tear, to include as secondary to service-connected right knee disability due to inadequate VA opinions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's headache disorder is granted service connection as it is linked to her active duty service.,Service connection for the low back disorder and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted based on continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted. Service connection is established for tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder), bilateral hands and feet disabilities, bilateral knees disabilities, hypertension, back, neck, hips, shoulders, legs, left shoulder condition, right shoulder arthritis, left-hand condition, right-hand condition, back condition, left hip condition, right hip condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, right leg condition, left leg condition, left foot condition, and right foot condition.

The Veteran's initial rating for lumbosacral spine strain is denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent disability rating. Service connection for neck disability, considered secondary to service-connected conditions, is also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence added after the October 2017 SOC. The Veteran's representative will decide whether to waive initial AOJ consideration of this additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for a back disability due to inadequate range of motion studies conducted during the previous VA examination. The Veteran needs to undergo a new VA examination to address these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for pseudofolliculitis barbae, left hip strain, fractured pelvis, low back disability, heel spurs (right and left), diabetes mellitus, and cerebrovascular accident (stroke) as secondary to diabetes mellitus due to inconsistencies in medical records and need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee, back, and hip disabilities. The issues of increased ratings for tension headaches (claimed as migraine) and lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis are remanded.

The Veteran's diagnosed sinusitis and allergic rhinitis are presumed to be related to his exposure to fine particulate matter during service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War. Service connection for these conditions is granted.