Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's current back disability, characterized as DDD of the thoracic spine, is granted as service connected. The Board found that his current condition likely began during his military service and has continued since.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for further examination. The Veteran's low back disability is presumed incurred in service, but there are questions about its onset and continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board finds that additional development is needed in several areas, including pension eligibility verification, medical records updates, and VA examinations.,Service connection has not yet been established for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, sleep apnea, and mental health disability (depression and anxiety).

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability to include degenerative arthritis, invertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), and lumbosacral strain. The decision is based on the Veteran's reported symptoms during active service and ongoing symptoms since then.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for DDD and denied service connection for OSA. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims as his symptoms were not shown to be related to service or any service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and a need to seek out his private treatment records and VA Medical Center records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic back disability during or within one year after service and that any current back condition is unrelated to service.

The Board denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to September 23, 2002.

The appeals of service connection for lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease, cluster migraine headaches, and depression have been dismissed due to the death of the Appellant.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating may be warranted based on additional evidence of functional loss. The Veteran also has service-connected migraine headaches and tinnitus, but no current effective date for these conditions.,The Veteran's hearing loss claim remains pending as VA treatment records are still outstanding.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar arthritis and left leg radiculopathy as secondary to lumbar arthritis due to incomplete information about the Veteran's service dates. The VA is instructed to obtain any outstanding treatment records and provide a new medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar arthritis.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, granted service connection for tinea pedis, and denied service connection for bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is granted service connection. The right hip, left knee, and left leg disorders are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his service connection claims for left knee laxity and lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a low back disability have been granted. Service connection is established for these conditions based on direct evidence of their onset during or related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and lumbar spine disabilities have been reopened, and both conditions are now granted as related to active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's right ankle disability claim is remanded as the RO failed to consider his request for rescheduling due to homelessness, resulting in a denial without proper consideration of this issue.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (polysubstance abuse disorder and depression) claim is remanded as new and material evidence was not considered, and an additional VA examination is needed.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability claim is remanded for a contemporaneous VA examination to determine the current severity of his condition.,The Veteran's left knee limitation of flexion claim is remanded for a contemporaneous VA examination and determination of whether the effective date should be earlier than April 14, 2015.,The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis claim is remanded to determine if the severance of the separate rating was proper.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, specifically whether it is related to service or secondary to service-connected knee disabilities. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted service connection. The Board has remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the other issues, including secondary service connection.