Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The appeal of the claim for service connection for a back disability has been dismissed. The case is remanded for further action on the PTSD issue.

The Board has remanded the TDIU, SMC, SAH, and SHA claims due to additional development being needed. The issues include determining whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities impact his ability for self-care and if he requires assistance in his daily environment.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including a new VA examination for the Veteran's low back disability and service connection claims for psychiatric disorders, elbow, wrist, hand, and respiratory disabilities. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for his low back disability and service connection for various conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and low back disability has been granted.,Service connection is established for the Veteran's current diagnoses of left ear sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and lumbosacral strain.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an adequate VA examination and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee disability and back disability. The claims are being returned to the RO for readjudication.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a link between his current condition and his military service.,For the residuals of coccyx injury, the Board found insufficient evidence linking the Veteran's current pain to his in-service tailbone injury. The case was remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further action due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records related to the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for lumbar spine DDD and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a link between the condition and his military service.

The Veteran's asthma was granted service connection due to a qualifying chronic disability (asthma) that became manifest within 10 years of his separation from service. Service connection for the thoracolumbar spine disability was denied as there is no evidence of such condition during or within one year after service discharge, and the Board found insufficient evidence linking it to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to issues with the medical opinions provided and the need for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to address whether the Veteran's current degenerative changes of the spine had onset during service or are otherwise related to any incident of active service, including his in-service complaints of low back pain and duties as a parachutist. The examiner should also determine if the Veteran's back disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to July 18, 2016, for the grant of service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) was denied as there is no evidence of a new or reopened claim received before that date.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease is not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, continuity of symptomatology is not established, and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's left shoulder disorder, including left rotator cuff tear with traumatic arthritis, bone spur on rotator cuff, and nerve impingement syndrome, is not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, continuity of symptomatology is not established, and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for migraine headaches, stroke residuals, back disorder, left knee disorder, sleep apnea, GERD, and heart disorder due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to new evidence of worsening knee conditions, as well as secondary service connection issues.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of right knee, left knee, and prostate conditions have been dismissed. The appeals seeking service connection for cervical spine, low back, and bilateral hearing loss conditions are remanded.

The Board has ordered a new medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's back disorder and neurological symptoms are related to service, including exposure during the Gulf War. The claim is being remanded for this purpose.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a back disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and residual lumbar surgery scar due to outstanding VA treatment records, updated VA vocational rehabilitation records, and further clarification of the November 2019 VA examination.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a cervical spine disorder was granted. The appeal seeking an increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. The claims for lumbar spine disorder, RLE sciatica, and right hip disorder are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate examinations and failure to address functional limitations.