Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disorder, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disorder (degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome), right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and Crohn's disease have been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss has not met the threshold to establish current hearing loss 'disability' as required by VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his thoracolumbar strain, right ankle strain, and left ankle strain prior to December 20, 2019 due to inadequate previous examinations.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU from March 20, 2014 due to his service-connected back condition and acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board finds that referral is warranted for extraschedular consideration prior to March 20, 2014.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and unverified stressors. The Veteran is also required to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric, back, right knee, and left knee disorders.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions provided are inadequate and requires additional development for the claims of service connection for hypertension, right ear condition, sinus condition, left knee condition, and low back condition.

The Veteran's hypertension, back condition, heart condition, neuropathy of the arms, hands, and legs, dementia, and tinnitus were not found to be related to service.,Service connection was denied for all claimed conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a right hip disability, left hip disability, and low back disability due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during military service.,New evidence received since the last denial did not change the outcome as it could not establish that any current hip or back disabilities are related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in a previous VA opinion regarding the Veteran's back injury. The examiner is asked to provide a new opinion considering the lay statements of the Veteran and his spouse.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an adequate medical examination to determine the current level of severity of the Veteran's back condition and addressing the issue of total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and sciatic radiculopathy was denied. A TDIU rating is granted from July 16, 2021.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right lower rib disorder and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.,Regarding his low back disorder, the Board finds additional medical opinion necessary to determine if it is at least as likely as not related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis with metatarsalgia.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and right lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that these conditions are causally related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder, including whether a pre-existing sacralization was aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for various disabilities, including right ankle, left leg, right leg, frostbite residuals, inguinal injury, sterility, right shoulder, low back, bilateral hip, and left ankle disabilities. The remand is due to incomplete service treatment records from the Veteran's first period of active service and the need for addendum opinions regarding the relationship between the claimed conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of hearing loss.,An initial disability rating of 20 percent, but no greater, for DDD of the lumbar spine with IVDS from June 30, 2014 is granted. The Veteran does not meet criteria for a higher rating due to lack of forward flexion and IVDS episodes.,The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis is denied as the evidence does not support a rating greater than 20 percent.,An initial disability rating of 30 percent, but no greater, for posttraumatic headaches from June 30, 2014 is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a lumbosacral spine disability and increased rating for left knee osteoarthritis due to additional evidence being added to his case file.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lower back disability, which may be related to his service. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine if his current disabilities are linked to his military service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for a left ankle disorder is granted. The Board also grants a 40 percent rating for the service-connected degenerative disc disease status post fusion, effective April 30, 2012. However, the issue of increased rating higher than 20 percent for the service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.,The Veteran has multiple new and material evidence-based claims that require additional VA examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development, including obtaining new evidence and scheduling an examination.