Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the VA examination is inadequate and requires a new one to determine if the Veteran's back disability is related to service.

The Veteran's back disability and leg disabilities are rated at 100% combined, but his service-connected conditions do not render him unemployable. The claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hip disabilities, as well as his radiculopathy and neuralgia. The Veteran is also seeking increased ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Service connection granted for headaches, with aggravation during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with sacroiliac joint arthritis is service connected, granting her claim.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left shoulder disorder and a back disorder. The VA examinations conducted in September 2014 and June 2016 were not sufficient to address the etiology of these conditions, as they did not consider all relevant evidence or provide clear rationales.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for left hip, right hip, lumbar spine, left shoulder, and left ankle disabilities has been granted. The claims of service connection for left hand disability are also granted.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, including degenerative disc disease, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including sinusitis, lumbar spine disorder, cervical strain, radiculopathy of the left arm, cerebral palsy, arteriosclerotic heart disease, hypertension, and a left elbow disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's GERD and lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus and TDIU prior to June 29, 2010 is being remanded due to the need for further development.,Special monthly compensation (SMC) is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis is granted as it was diagnosed within the required timeframe and due to exposure in Southwest Asia. The HIV, headache, right knee, and lower back claims are remanded for additional medical opinions regarding their relationship to PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, left knee condition, and right knee condition as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during service or were related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination and opinion regarding service connection for a back disability. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also inextricably intertwined with this appeal.

The Board has remanded the cases for obtaining additional private treatment records from Wright Patterson Air Force Base since October 2014. The Veteran is seeking increased ratings for lumbar intervertebral disc disease and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The application to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for cervical degenerative arthritis. The claims regarding the Veteran's cervical degenerative arthritis and low back condition are remanded for de novo review on the merits.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for low back condition. The claims regarding the Veteran's cervical degenerative arthritis and low back condition are remanded for de novo review on the merits.,The application to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for right leg condition is remanded.,The application to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for left leg condition is remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided are inadequate, and thus remanding for further development to obtain additional medical opinions addressing the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability, left shoulder disability, left hip disability, left knee disability, right hip disability, and right knee disability.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar spine multilevel disc disease and left hip osteoarthritis as secondary to service-connected right knee osteoarthritis due to inadequate medical opinion in September 2020. A new VA medical opinion is required.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims for various hip, shoulder, and ankle conditions as well as the claim for an increased disability rating for prostate cancer. The TDIU claim was also dismissed due to the Veteran's death.