Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease (DDD), finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for a lumbar spine disability and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional retrospective medical opinions regarding his lumbar spine disability prior to March 1, 2021.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable from December 2, 2013 to May 8, 2017 due to the combined effect of multiple conditions including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and orthopedic issues.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic back condition, finding that the Veteran's statements about her in-service injuries were not credible and that there was no evidence of a current disability or causal relationship to service.,The Board also denied service connection for a right knee condition, finding that the Veteran's statements about her in-service injury were inconsistent and that there was no evidence of a current disability or causal relationship to service.

The Veteran's bilateral eye condition is not service-connected, and her cervical spine disability was rated at 20% prior to June 23, 2021, but the rating for this condition has been increased to 40% after that date.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than June 11, 2012 for service connection for degenerative disc disease & spondylosis L4-5 and L5-S1 was denied as the earliest possible effective date is June 11, 2012.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disability and denial of a compensable rating for acne vulgaris, finding that there was insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran is granted an extraschedular total disability rating based on individual unemployability for the period from March 3, 1997 to April 11, 2012. For the period prior to October 20, 2004, he was denied a higher initial rating for his lumbosacral spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and remanded the left ankle disorder claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to the need for an updated VA examination and consideration of his TDIU claim, which is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim for his back disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate examination reports prior to December 19, 2013.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine, right knee, left knee, right wrist, and left wrist disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing the conditions began during or were related to service.

The Board has dismissed the service connection claims for residuals of a low back injury and post-traumatic headaches due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, finding no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current diagnosis and his active-duty service.,Service connection was also denied for a cervical spine condition claimed as secondary to his right knee disability. The Board found insufficient medical evidence linking this condition to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and bilateral knee condition due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for an initial 40 percent evaluation for service-connected lumbar spine disorder is granted. The claim for a TDIU from April 12, 2013 is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the impact of the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain on his employability prior to September 9, 2015. A new VA opinion is needed to address this issue.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU is remanded due to the need for new VA examinations, including a mood disorder examination and an evaluation of his left knee disability in both active and passive motion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is related to active service and the claim for service connection is granted. The issues of bilateral pes planus, left knee disability, right knee disability, back disability, erectile dysfunction, and headache disorder are remanded for additional development.