Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board will now proceed with a full review of his claim.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability, including as secondary to service-connected left hip trochanteric bursitis, is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal conditions due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, but the evidence does not support a higher rating.,For his right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, the Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back condition, erectile dysfunction, migraines, neck condition, and right triceps disorder have worsened since his last examinations. The Board finds that a new examination is necessary to determine the current severity of these conditions and their relationship to service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for small fiber neuropathy, back condition, and neck condition, finding that the evidence supports a causal relationship to active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee strain and lumbosacral spine strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, finding that these conditions originated during active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left shoulder osteoarthritis, and right shoulder osteoarthritis have been granted. The remaining issues of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral elbow disabilities, and cervical spine disability are remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The Board has remanded the claims for restless leg syndrome, low back disability, Morton's neuroma of the left foot, prostate cancer, lung disability, and dental disability due to lack of nexus opinions.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is granted as incurred during active service.,There is no evidence of a left ear hearing loss disability meeting VA criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, right ankle disability, and cataracts (claimed as an eye disability) have been denied. The Board found no current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and low back disability have been reopened, but the claim for increased rating for PTSD prior to May 5, 2020, and higher than 70 percent thereafter has been denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to a lack of medical examination or opinion regarding these conditions. The matter is now returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracic and lumbar spine, ganglioneuroma, and lumbar strain is denied as he does not have unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for sarcoidosis, heart disability, hypertension, achilles tendon disabilities, and lower back/knee disabilities. The case is being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, finding that there is at least a balance of evidence to support these conditions being related to his active duty.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the service connection claims related to various conditions, including right and left ankle sprains, sinusitis, contact dermatitis, eczema, blisters on the feet, wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, sciatica, upper respiratory infection, alopecia, hair implants, DJD of the hip, lumbar spine DDD, and hearing loss. The Board dismissed these claims as a result.

The Veteran's asthma was granted service connection due to its presumptive relationship with his Persian Gulf War service. The other claims for shoulder, elbow, back, and sciatica disorders were remanded as further development is needed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to failure to ensure reasonable efforts were made to obtain private medical records from Dr. Kimberly Shelton, who treated the Veteran for over 20 years.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 20 percent from July 6, 2001, to March 2, 2007; 40 percent from March 2, 2007, to September 14, 2009; and 20 percent from September 14, 2009, to May 10, 2016. A rating in excess of 40 percent was denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted as service-connected. The back and dental conditions are remanded for further development.