Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for a lower back disability, right and left lower leg disabilities (shin splints), and digestive condition (IBS) as all meet the criteria of direct service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for folliculitis. The cases of left knee and right knee disabilities, as well as a low back disability are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for a disability affecting the toes of the right foot and service connection for a back disability. The Veteran's representative requested information about the qualifications of the April 2019 VA examiner, and the matter is deferred until such information can be provided.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service records are incomplete and has ordered VA to obtain his treatment records from 1952 onwards. The claims for service connection remain pending as a result of this remand.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient efforts in obtaining the Veteran's service and medical records related to his Army National Guard service. The Veteran is requested to authorize release of any outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis have been granted. The rating for the lumbosacral strain has also been increased to 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability, including arthritis, is etiologically related to his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability. The claims of service connection for cold weather injuries of the right and left foot are remanded due to lack of adequate VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbosacral strain, to include herniated bulging discs is remanded due to insufficient medical information and the need for an addendum opinion. The examiner must consider all prior diagnoses in the record and nexus opinions and explain or distinguish any variations in findings and conclusions.

The Veteran's service-connected low back condition and insomnia have not prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, as his education and experience are sufficient for sedentary work.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back and neck conditions have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology. The rating for allergic rhinitis is also remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back, left hip, and right hip disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and entitlement to TDIU due to inadequate VA examinations that did not address the Veteran's lay evidence regarding his disabilities.

The Veteran's petitions to reopen claims for lumbar spine, right elbow, and neck conditions have been granted. The claim for hypertension has been denied. The appeals for the lumbar spine, right elbow, and neck conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, PFB, and erectile dysfunction have been granted. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for recurrent lumbar spine disability, recurrent right ankle disability, recurrent left ankle disability, right foot hallux valgus with gout and heel spurs, and left knee Osgood Schlatter's disease.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee, bilateral hip, thoracolumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities as proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, lumbar spine disability, and left hip disabilities are being remanded for further examination to determine their etiology and severity.

The Board denied the Veteran's TDIU claim as his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for her thoracolumbar spine DJD was denied. The right foot plantar fasciitis and bilateral plantar fasciitis were granted a 30 percent rating effective February 21, 2021. The right shoulder DJD was denied a higher rating. The cervical spine DJD prior to December 2, 2019 was granted a 20 percent rating; from that date, the claim for a higher rating was denied.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted as secondary to service-connected knee disabilities.,Service connection for migraine headaches is granted based on a history of head pain after tooth extraction during active service.