Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a back disability, and a left arm disability, as well as an increased rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as a presumptive condition due to Agent Orange exposure. The low back and right foot bone spur conditions are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the submission of new evidence, and these issues will be reconsidered by the RO.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, finding no credible evidence of an in-service injury or disease and no continuous symptoms since service.

The Board has decided the rating for thoracolumbar spine disability, but remanded the issue of service connection for radiculopathy of bilateral lower extremities.

The appeal for service connection for tinea pedis is dismissed. The claim of entitlement to service connection for a left leg disability is reopened and remanded. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left eye disability, and lumbar spine disability are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to uncertainty about whether his rheumatoid arthritis pre-existed service and if so, whether it was aggravated by military service. The issues of service connection for lumbar spine disorder, left shoulder disorder, and right shoulder disorder are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a determination on the character of discharge from service and readjudication of all issues on appeal. The decision is not binding on other VA policies or interpretations.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder and left lower extremity disorder, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The Board also found that the Veteran's sleep apnea did not have its onset during service.,Service connection was denied for sleep apnea as well, with the Board concluding that the condition is more likely due to weight gain post-service rather than any incident during military service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the Board has remanded his service connection claim for a lower back condition due to conflicting medical evidence.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, sciatica of the left lower extremity, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, and various nerve radiculopathies. The remand includes obtaining a retrospective medical opinion for the period prior to September 18, 2020, and scheduling examinations to assess current severity.

The Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for a back condition, including upper back and cervical spine, was granted. However, the claim itself remains denied.,The Veteran's right shoulder condition is remanded due to lack of an adequate opinion linking it to active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for lumbar spondylosis because no new and material evidence was presented, despite adding VA treatment records, private treatment records, and personal statements to the file.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is rated at 40 percent effective August 24, 2016. Prior to this date, the rating was 20 percent.,TDIU is granted from April 21, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,The Board has remanded cases involving service connection for sleep apnea syndrome, left hand carpal tunnel syndrome, right hand carpal tunnel syndrome, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back and neck conditions, bilateral foot problems, and a mental health condition, render him unable to maintain gainful employment. The Board has granted the TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, chronic idiopathic demyelinating neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, and major depressive disorder, all related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The evidence does not support direct or presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his claimed disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, skin irritability, memory loss, migraines with aura (chronic headaches), blurred vision, back disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The examination will assess whether these conditions are related to service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's hypertension is not related to service and did not manifest within one year of separation from service.,The Veteran's arthritis of multiple joints, excluding the lumbar spine, legs, and feet, but including the neck and ribs, are not etiologically related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, a low back condition, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to the Veteran's service-connected low back disability. The decision is based on credible evidence of symptoms during service and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.