Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for thyroid disability, right testicular growth, left inguinal hernia residuals, and lumbar spine disability due to in-service radiation exposure. Additional evidence is needed, including service treatment records from the Veteran's first period of active duty, a VA examination on the etiology of the thyroid disability, and a VA examination on the etiology of the right testicular growth.

The Board has granted service connection for Degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine and remanded the issue of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder.

The Board has found that further examination and opinion are necessary before a decision can be rendered regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including back disability, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, bilateral leg disability other than peripheral neuropathy (muscle atrophy), and eye disability (cone-rod dystrophy).

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, is granted as service-connected. The left hip and right hip disorders are remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to the low back disorder. The low back disorder rating remains at 40%.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar radiculopathy of the left lower extremity as due to service-connected bilateral sacroiliitis of the lumbar spine and denied a higher rating for bilateral sacroiliitis of the lumbar spine. The claims for degenerative arthritis of the bilateral shoulders and neck are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a thoracolumbar spine disability is being reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA outpatient treatment records and scheduling an addendum medical opinion from the January 2018 VA spine examiner.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis is remanded due to the need for an updated VA examination.

The Veteran's lower back disability is rated at 20 percent, and the increased ratings for left and right sciatic radulopathy are granted.

Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.,Initial disability ratings in excess of 20 percent are denied for left and right lumbar radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left knee chondromalacia, and right knee chondromalacia. Additionally, a TDIU rating is being remanded due to the overlap with other issues.

The Veteran's initial rating for low back disability is denied. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to PTSD is granted, and SMC at the housebound rate is also granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that there is no persuasive evidence linking his current condition to his active military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back disability. The appeal will be reconsidered after obtaining a new medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, finding that the evidence did not support a direct or secondary link to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, both related to active duty. The Veteran's muscle spasms in the right leg are not considered a current disability.,Service connection was denied for rhabdomyalgia (muscle spasms) as there is no evidence of such condition during the appeal period.

The Veteran's left thigh scar is not rated as compensable, and he is denied SMC based on aid and attendance or housebound status. The low back condition issue remains pending due to the need for additional evidence.,Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for loss of left leg below the knee amputation requires obtaining informed consent documents from VistA Imaging.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis but denied service connection for a back disability. The decision on the back disability is based on lack of evidence linking it to service, while the decision on sinusitis is in favor of the Veteran due to conflicting medical opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability, left hand numbness, and low back condition. The Veteran's claim for increased rating of bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, degenerative arthritis of the right knee status-post ACL joint reconstruction, and degenerative arthritis of the left knee, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not caused by a parachuting injury in service.