Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions began in service or are related to service.,New and relevant evidence has not been submitted to support the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, status post herniated disc surgery was denied. Service connection claims for left shoulder condition (osteoarthritis), right shoulder condition (osteoarthritis), right knee condition (osteoarthritis), and left knee condition (osteoarthritis with history of total left knee replacement) were also denied.

The Veteran's hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and low back disorder are all granted as service-connected. From March 19, 2019, the Veteran is awarded a 70 percent rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an eye condition is denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, back disability, and neck disability are remanded due to duty to assist error.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease is granted service connection on a presumptive basis due to herbicide agent exposure in Thailand. Service connection for the lumbar spine disorder and bilateral tinnitus are denied.

The Veteran's cervical spine DDD is granted a 40% rating from June 21, 2018. He also receives a TDIU effective June 21, 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus, bilateral hammertoes, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and a back disability. The Veteran's DM is remanded due to the need for further medical examination.

The Veteran's back disability is granted as secondary to her service-connected left hip disability. The claim for basal cell carcinoma, right ear hearing loss, and bilateral bunions are denied.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability. However, the claims for obstructive sleep apnea and peripheral arterial disease have been remanded due to procedural issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for hernia disorder, lower back disorder, and upper back disorder due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's service records indicate possible back complaints during service, and he testified about the rigors of combat construction which may have contributed to his current conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability, neck disability, and sleep apnea to secure additional medical opinions addressing their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine condition and left knee condition due to insufficient consideration of all relevant evidence, including his in-service complaints and current treatment records. A VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service or secondary to other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings in excess of 10 percent for lumbar strain, right knee disability, and left knee disability have been dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of these appeals.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and a lumbar spine disability, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship to active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding range of motion for the thoracolumbar spine. The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for back disabilities is being returned to VA for further review.

The Board has found that the development conducted does not comply with prior remand directives and requires a new VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's back disability is related to his active service.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD and remanded the issue of service connection for a back disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for obtaining additional medical records and readjudicating the claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further development regarding his reports of flare-ups and consideration of chiropractor records.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent each, while his lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent prior to May 11, 2021, and 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran's right shoulder disability remains at a 20 percent rating.,The Board denied all increased rating claims as the evidence did not support ratings higher than those currently assigned.