Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied for various conditions, including PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (including dementia), diabetes mellitus type II, prostate cancer, hypertension, a heart disorder (coronary artery disease, status post stent placement), a circulatory disorder, bilateral eye disorders (right eye blindness, double vision in the left eye, cataracts), lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, peripheral neuropathy of each extremity, radiculopathy of each extremity, and myelomalacia. The Board found that there was no evidence to support these claims.,The Veteran's service connection claims were denied for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (including dementia), diabetes mellitus type II, prostate cancer, hypertension, a heart disorder (coronary artery disease, status post stent placement), a circulatory disorder, bilateral eye disorders (right eye blindness, double vision in the left eye, cataracts), lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, peripheral neuropathy of each extremity, radiculopathy of each extremity, and myelomalacia.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records review.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal. The appeals for a higher rating for lumbar strain and degenerative spondylosis, as well as TDIU, are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his low back disorder and left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings from May 7, 2007 to June 5, 2009 or from June 5, 2009 to April 27, 2022.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy and its relationship to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for issues related to surgical scars post bilateral inguinal herniorrhaphy and service connection for a left arm condition. The remaining claims of entitlement to increased ratings for shoulder disabilities, inguinal hernia, pes planus, and leg conditions are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for Major Depressive Disorder, Lumbar Spine Disorder, and Cervical Spine Disorder have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran's major depressive disorder was rated appropriately at 70 percent under Diagnostic Code 9434.

The Board has granted service connection for tension headaches as secondary to rhinitis. The issues of evaluating the Veteran's lumbar osteoarthritis and left lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to October 30, 2017 was denied as the effective date of the grant of TDIU is October 30, 2017.

The Veteran's atherosclerotic coronary artery disease did not preclude a workload less than 5 metabolic equivalents of task (METs), resulting in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope.,The cervical spine disability manifested by subjective complaints of chronic neck pain and flares; objective findings do not demonstrate flexion limited to 15 degrees or less, or favorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine.

Your appeal has been dismissed because the Veteran died before a decision could be made. The case will not proceed further.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service event, injury or disease and the weight of the evidence is against a finding that his current condition is related to service.,The Veteran's low back condition, heart condition, diabetes mellitus, bilateral lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, and acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder) are remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and current hearing loss disabilities are service-connected, but his low back disability requires further examination and development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD; a low back condition, and a left leg disability. The Board found that there was no evidence of a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of a rating in excess of 40 percent for a back disorder and total disability rating for compensation purposes due to individual unemployability (TDIU) due to insufficient information regarding functional impairment during flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to concerns about the adequacy of the VA opinions and the need for independent medical expert evaluations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) because her employment was not considered substantially gainful, despite her service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to additional development and examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected lumbar facet arthropathy is being remanded due to the lack of updated diagnostic data and missing information from the April 2022 examination.