Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that the evidence supports a nexus between the Veteran's in-service duties and his current condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied as the current level of disability is adequately contemplated by the schedular rating criteria.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's back condition, headache condition, and stroke are denied as not being related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate October 2014 VA examination, and a new examination is needed to determine the severity of the Veteran's back disability prior to June 13, 2014.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, left knee, and low back disabilities due to inadequate opinions in July 2021. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for left leg, back, and bilateral foot disabilities due to additional development being necessary.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral foot disability. The issues of service connection for seizure disorder and low back disability remain unresolved.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected PTSD, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, right knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The appeal is being remanded to allow the AOJ to consider newly received evidence in the first instance.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic low back condition during or after service and that any current condition is not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for TDIU and DEA prior to November 17, 2016 are being remanded due to the overlap with other pending appeals.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the lumbar spine disability.,There is no evidence linking the Veteran's current disabilities to his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disability and hypertension due to lack of evidence showing in-service onset or continuity of symptoms, and the weight of evidence does not support presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of service connection for back disability was granted. Service connection for a chronic cough is denied.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and opinions are needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy, PFB, hypertension, and right knee disability. The appeal is being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU, and his combined rating is less than 70% even when considering multiple conditions. The Director of Compensation Service determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for an extraschedular TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for various disabilities, including thoracolumbar spine disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left leg disability, right leg disability, and left ankle disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other functional loss.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of GERD was denied, and the issue of service connection for back disability and left ankle pain is remanded.,New evidence has been submitted that may support reopening the claims for back disability and left ankle pain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and a lumbar spine disability have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had current disabilities related to her active duty, and there was sufficient evidence of a nexus between her conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for higher disability rating, service connection, TDIU prior to July 26, 2019, and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.