Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded several issues, including the claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss and the reopening of service connection claims for gastrointestinal disability (GERD) due to in-service exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The other issues are related to service connection.

The Veteran's claims for a higher disability rating and TDIU prior to the specified dates are being remanded due to incomplete medical opinions regarding his low back disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and for nonservice-connected pension due to lack of evidence showing that he served for at least 90 days during a period of war or was discharged from service due to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service connection claim for chronic prostatitis is granted. The Board also remanded the issues of entitlement to initial ratings for achilles tendonitis and DJD of the lumbar spine, as well as a higher rating for the lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral foot disorder is reopened, and the issues of service connection for multiple joint disorders are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cervical spine disability, including arthritis and degenerative disc disease, is etiologically related to his active service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his active service or any service-connected disability. The Board also remanded the issues of rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis with patella release of both knees.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and an earlier effective date for lumbar disc degenerative changes has been dismissed due to the Veteran's request to withdraw her appeal.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, finding that the Veteran's back disorder did not have its onset in service and is not related to service or caused by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis B and depression have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy has been granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection of a right shoulder condition, bilateral knee condition, and lower back condition due to new and material evidence. The claims are granted.,The Board also remanded several other issues including service connection for hypertension, acquired psychiatric condition, and COPD.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, right shoulder, left shoulder, and lumbar spine conditions, finding that these conditions are related to injuries incurred during combat in Vietnam.

The Board has granted the Veteran's applications to reopen his claims for service connection for back and cervical spine disabilities. The Board found that there is a causal relationship between the current diagnoses of lumbar degenerative disc disease and cervical spine degenerative disc disease, which are related to the Veteran's in-service motor vehicle accident in November 1993.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The case is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder, including whether it had its onset during service or is otherwise related to service. The examiner will also assess whether any identified lumbar sacralization is a congenital defect that was aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for a thoracic spine disorder, a lumbar spine disorder, and chronic headaches. The Board found the persuasive weight of the evidence was against finding these conditions are related to service.,Service connection is denied as there is no nexus between the Veteran's current thoracic and lumbar spine disorders and his in-service back injury or physical profile.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right hand degenerative arthritis, and left hand degenerative arthritis. Service connection was granted for PTSD with an initial rating of 70% prior to June 30, 2021.,The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for a right knee disability, left knee disability, left foot disability, esophageal disability, and intestinal disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes and hypertension were reopened due to the submission of new evidence. Service connection is granted for a lumbar spine disability, diagnosed as spondylolisthesis.,Service connection is granted for left lower extremity radiculopathy and right lower extremity radiculopathy, both secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder was granted. The claims for right knee and left knee disabilities, as well as lumbar spine disability, were denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's low back disability is related to service.