Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back disorder, finding that it was incurred in active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's lower back disability and his service. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to address this issue.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis, and arthritis of the lumbar spine. The decision is based on the finding that his current condition had its onset in service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for a VA examination of the Veteran's lumbar spine condition.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee condition is being remanded due to the need for further examination.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine condition is also being remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, resulting in the denial of TDIU.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has remanded to determine if a higher rating is warranted based on increased symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical degenerative disc disease as due to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis, finding that his current condition is more likely related to age and his service-connected lumbar strain than to active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability has been fully granted, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.,New and material evidence was not received sufficient to reopen the claim for service connection for a skin disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's account of back pain and injury during service is not credible, and thus denied service connection for a back disability. The case is being remanded to obtain an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding whether the current back disability is related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, and obstructive sleep apnea, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The case is remanded for further examination regarding his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the right knee disability, lumbar strain rating, and psychiatric disorder rating. The Board dismissed these appeals as a result.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disability, headache/migraines, chronic fatigue syndrome, erectile dysfunction, fibromyalgia, and lumbar spine disability due to new evidence submitted since the last denial. The cases are remanded as they remain on the merits.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for a right foot disability. However, service connection is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or chronic condition related to current symptoms.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's back disability was aggravated by service or worsened beyond its natural progression.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding service connection for lumbosacral strain. The issues of special monthly compensation due to housebound status are also inextricably intertwined and have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for headaches, lumbar spine disability, kidney disability, and COPD due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 70 percent rating for PTSD prior to April 26, 2019 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an earlier effective date based on the Veteran's symptoms.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30 percent rating for DDD of the cervical spine prior to April 26, 2019 was also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show forward flexion of 15 degrees or less or favorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that more development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including gastrointestinal disorders, sinusitis, diabetes mellitus, low back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. The issues are being remanded to ensure compliance with previous Board instructions.