Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology and relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back condition and bilateral knee condition.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective from November 10, 2014. Bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves are each granted a 20 percent rating, also effective from June 9, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right lower extremity sciatic radulopathy, left lower extremity sciatic radulopathy, and cervical spine were granted effective February 4, 1999.,An earlier effective date is not warranted as all claims are based on direct service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease and spondylosis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his active service. The claim of reopening a back disability was also granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, but denied these claims on the merits. The claim of increased rating for nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder and a lumbar spine disorder, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, DDD and DJD of the lumbar spine, bilateral foot disabilities, and acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder NOS).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and missing records. The Veteran is presumed to have PTSD, anxiety, and depression related to her in-service hazing and assault. Her lumbar and neck conditions are also being reviewed as they may be related to service, but more evidence is needed.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for accrued benefits based on pending claims for service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral upper extremity, and heart disabilities as no substantive appeal was filed.

The Board has granted service connection for tension headaches, cervical spine spondylosis, facet syndrome and cervical myofascial pain syndrome, right shoulder osteoarthritis and labral tear status post arthroscopic repair, thoracolumbar strain, and right knee tendonitis/tendinosis and patellofemoral pain syndrome. The Board found the evidence to be in equipoise as to whether these conditions arose during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, bilateral hip disability, lumbar spine disability, and lower extremity neurological disability due to potential service connection issues. The Veteran's in-service noise exposure and underwater diving experience are being considered.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for further development due to incomplete records and the need to obtain private treatment records from a chiropractic provider.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and degenerative disc disease, finding that there was no current disability at the time of discharge and no evidence of chronic back pain during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records. The issues of back, shoulder, knee, foot, bronchitis, vision, and arm disorders are being reviewed.

The Board denied service connection for a back condition, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and acquired psychiatric condition. The Veteran's IBS was not addressed as it did not meet the criteria.,Service connection could not be established because there is no evidence of a chronic disability present during or immediately following service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left hip and low back disorders, finding that these conditions are as likely as not related to his active-duty service.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development, including for addendum opinions and VA examinations to address the Veteran's service connection claims.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy. The Board finds that the evidence is in approximate balance as to whether the Veteran has experienced relevant symptoms since the original date of his claim, March 28, 2013.,The Veteran's appeal includes claims seeking entitlement to disability ratings in excess of 20 percent for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy. These matters are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's PTSD and back disability have been granted service connection, but a higher rating for PTSD is denied. A TDIU based solely on PTSD has been granted effective May 17, 2012.