Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disability, CLL, and pneumonia as secondary to CLL due to insufficient competent evidence in the file to decide the claim. A VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's disabilities.

The Board has determined that there is no current thoracolumbar spine disorder and thus the Veteran's claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and clarification regarding the severity of his service-connected conditions, specifically peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his DDD of the lumbosacral spine was denied. For the period prior to October 1, 2021, he received a 20% rating and for the period beginning October 1, 2021, he received a 40% rating.

The Veteran's initial rating for lumbosacral strain remains denied, and the issue of a higher rating is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine strain and other service connection issues due to new evidence received since the last decision. The case will be returned to the AOJ for review.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical strain and thoracolumbar strain, finding that the Veteran's current neck and back disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is remanded for further development, including obtaining a retrospective medical opinion regarding the severity of her condition during flare-ups and after repeated use.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee condition, neck condition (claimed as cervical strain), and back condition due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which are currently considered directly related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support the onset or causation of the condition during service.

The Board has determined that additional medical examinations and opinions are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, fibrocystic breasts, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), bilateral shin splints, back disability, and left knee disability. The claims for service connection will be remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and TDIU based on his back disability due to a myelogram performed in 1975, as there are outstanding VA records that need to be obtained and an additional medical opinion is required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and SMC due to procedural issues, including the need for additional evidence and examinations.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the lower lumbar spine is related to his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and lack of development regarding exposure to chemical, biological, or radioactive substances at Fort McClellan. The claims are being returned for further action.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to new evidence added to the record since the last SSOC.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including heart, neck, low back, shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, and ankle disabilities. The evidence did not establish a relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's period of active duty service.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, finding that his symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back condition, which is aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, gout, and hypertension. The Veteran's claims were dismissed due to the grant of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.,Service connection was not granted for a back disability, sleep apnea, gout, or hypertension.