Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's back condition is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete records and to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss in his left ear meets VA disability criteria.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her back disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination. The current examination did not adequately describe the extent of her disability, particularly during flare-ups and with respect to ankylosing spondylitis.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral dry eyes and conjunctivitis (claimed as residuals of flash burning bilateral eyes), migraine headaches, left knee disability, low back disability, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder has also been recharacterized.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for another VA examination. The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine condition is being reviewed again as it may be related to an in-service back injury.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The Veteran's service connection claims are being returned for additional examination and opinion.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The issue of an increased rating for the lumbar spine disability remains pending.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations. The issues of seizure disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (likely PTSD), and upper back disability are all being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected reactive arthritis with chronic low back strain, and claims for higher ratings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and back disability, have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence. The appeals are not granted in full.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is related to his active service, specifically a fall in 1982. However, the VA examiner found that the current condition and radicular symptoms are more likely due to post-service injuries and occupations than the in-service injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease and that his current condition is not related to his active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder and low back disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a direct relationship to service or secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if his lumbar spine, cervical spine, knee, shoulder, and ankle disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a lumbar spine disability, as there is insufficient evidence regarding whether his current condition was incurred in service. The case will be referred back to VA for further evaluation and consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, finding that the Veteran's current condition is etiologically related to his military service. The claim was reopened due to new and material evidence presented since the prior final denial.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for meningitis, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity are not granted. The case is remanded to allow for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current diagnoses or sufficient functional impairment to warrant higher ratings.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) and low back strain are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.