Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back, left knee, and right knee disorders due to inadequate examination reports and failure to address VA duty-to-assist obligations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right and left knee conditions, as well as his sinusitis. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on unemployability prior to December 24, 2020 due to insufficient evidence showing his inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates were dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal. No new evidence was presented, nor did he file a claim after June 20, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for left knee, right knee, low back, left leg, left hip, and right hip disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing in-service incurrence or continuity of symptoms since separation from active service.

Service connection for left inguinal hernia repair residuals is granted. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for lumbar spine disability, right foot disability, and left foot disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for OSA, headaches, and hyperthyroidism with RLS are granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The claims for gastroenteritis, sinusitis, and hypertension were denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including left ear hearing loss and hypertension. The reasons for remand include obtaining additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.,Several initial rating claims have also been remanded, including those for shoulder, hip, knee, and spine disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disorders were denied increased ratings prior to September 22, 2015. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for irritable bowel syndrome prior to September 9, 2021, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter is denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a headache disorder, neck disorder, and low back disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as he did not meet the criteria for additional VR&E benefits, other than employment services, to include a master's degree in pursuit of a career as a PA.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lower back condition. The examiner is requested to provide an adequate opinion with reasoned bases and rationales for every conclusion stated.

Service connection for a testicular varicose vein condition with epididymal cyst is granted. The issues of service connection for a low back condition and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is granted, but not related to service.,The Veteran's lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities are denied as not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar strain is rated at 40 percent, effective September 8, 2009.

Service connection is granted for lumbar and cervical spine conditions.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's pes planus was granted a higher rating of 50 percent since January 18, 2021. The remaining issues were remanded for further development.,Service connection was established for stomach disability and hypertension.

The claim of service connection for a low back disability is being remanded due to the need for an adequate VA examination.