Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has dismissed all appeals as the Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection and ratings in excess of 20 percent, 30 percent, or compensable for various conditions. The RO granted service connection for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for his service-connected osteoporosis of the lumbar spine was denied. The Board found that from April 11, 2011 to September 17, 2015, the Veteran's condition met a 20 percent rating based on limitation of motion.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for spine and left ankle disabilities due to insufficient medical evidence, including lack of consideration of medication effects and range of motion measurements. The Veteran will need new VA examinations to evaluate his current disability levels.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis lumbar spine, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision finds that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in its handling of the Veteran's back and right wrist claims. The case is now pending for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current right wrist disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disorder and remanded the issues of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left hip and right hip.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and thoracolumbar spine conditions due to incomplete records and insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and outstanding private treatment records.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claims for service connection can be adjudicated. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine and left hip disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations that did not consider all relevant evidence, including the Veteran's service records and his contentions regarding in-service injuries.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability prior to August 14, 2019. The appeal is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, and back disorder. Service connection is remanded for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete service personnel records, specifically for his periods of active duty for training and inactive duty training in the Louisiana Air National Guard and Connecticut Air National Guard from 1989 to 2011. The VA is instructed to obtain these records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and scoliosis, and left ankle sprain have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current functional impairment.

The Board has denied service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, right fifth and fourth MCP disabilities, back disability, and tinnitus as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions manifested during service or are related to service.

The Veteran's initial claim for hearing loss was granted, but the assigned noncompensable ratings were later remanded due to incomplete development. The Board has now remanded this issue.,The Veteran's back condition was also remanded with a request for additional examination and opinion regarding his current disability level.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed chronic dermatitis is related to his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issues of service connection for foot disorder, low back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder are remanded.