Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation of her cervical spine disability remains in appellate status and is being remanded due to the receipt of additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient examination reports and the need to consider a urological disability related to his service-connected back disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the Veteran's current low back disability symptoms and rating. The earlier effective date claim is denied as there was no claim within one year of separation from service or prior to March 23, 2015.

The Veteran's right ankle osteoarthritis with tendonitis and sprain is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds no basis for a higher rating. The lumbosacral strain and DDD are remanded due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his back disability is granted with a 20 percent evaluation prior to September 27, 2021 and a 40 percent evaluation from that date. His claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's right lumbar radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent, effective February 26, 2010. The claim for TDIU was denied as the Veteran has maintained substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's hypertension was not shown during service and is not related to his military service.,No chronic back disability was found during service. The Veteran has current symptoms, but no evidence of a chronic condition in service.,There is no evidence of a right eye disability during service or any connection between the Veteran's current eye problems and service.,The Veteran does not have a diagnosed bilateral knee condition that can be linked to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that there is no nexus between the in-service injury and the current condition. The Board also found that symptoms of arthritis did not manifest within one year of separation from service or were continuous since service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to outstanding employment and private medical records, as well as SSA disability records. The Veteran is advised to cooperate in providing these records.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the STRs do not show any treatment or complaints related to this condition.,Service connection for myocardial infarction is denied because there is no indication that it occurred during active duty, reserve duty, or within one year post-service. The Veteran's STRs are silent on heart problems, and his current diagnosis of a myocardial infarction is not linked to service.,The claim for service connection for PTSD is denied as the Veteran did not have any in-service stressors that were verified by VA and there is no evidence linking his current psychiatric condition to service. The STRs do not show any treatment or diagnoses related to a psychiatric disability.,Service connection for hypertension is denied because there is no indication of hypertension during active duty, and post-service records are negative for this condition. There is also no link between the Veteran's current diagnosis of hypertension and his military service.,The claim for low back disability is remanded as the VA examiner did not consider the Veteran's STRs showing a motor vehicle accident in service that resulted in back pain, nor did they perform any diagnostic testing.,Service connection for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is denied because there are no STRs indicating treatment or complaints related to this condition during active duty. The VA examiner also noted the absence of contemporaneous medical records showing evaluation or treatment for the claimed conditions.,Service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is denied for similar reasons as right knee, with no STRs indicating treatment or complaints related to this condition during active duty and no diagnostic testing performed by the VA examiner.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for thoracolumbar strain prior to November 3, 2021 and from that date was denied as the evidence did not show forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less or favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability, including degenerative disc disease (DDD), finding that there is at least equipoise evidence to support this determination. The decision also grants the reopening of the previously denied claim.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a right wrist fracture and remanded the issue of service connection for low back disability.

The Board has remanded two issues related to service connection for lumbar and cervical spine conditions with numbness in the lower and upper extremities, respectively. The remand is due to the failure of the Board to obtain VA treatment records from the Omaha VA Medical Center.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for cataracts has been dismissed. Service connection for hemorrhoids, PTSD, and various other disabilities have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and earlier effective dates have been dismissed.,A higher rating for adjustment disorder is granted since August 3, 2019.

The Board denied service connection for a degenerative arthritis and disc disease of the lumbar spine, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues on appeal were remanded.

The Board has remanded the claim for a retrospective opinion on the severity of the Veteran's low back disability throughout the appeals period.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder disability. The claims for back, right hip, bilateral foot disabilities, and migraines are remanded due to inadequate VA opinions.