Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar spine disorder, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to additional development being needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine condition.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy was denied, while the appeal for a higher rating for lumbar spine strain with intervertebral disc syndrome is pending and remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to a lack of recent VA examinations addressing these issues. The Veteran is seeking service connection for left eye, right ankle, and back disabilities, as well as increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities.

The petition to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for back, knee, shoulder, migraine, and psychiatric disorders is granted. The appeal is allowed to that extent only.

The Veteran's appeals for effective dates prior to September 21, 2015 for PTSD and TBI have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates than October 28, 2016 for left knee strain and right shoulder status post labral, capsule, and rotator cuff repair have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder status post labral, capsule, and rotator cuff repair, and compensable ratings for residual surgical scars on the right shoulder and right knee have been dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee patellofemoral syndrome and remanded the issues of service connection for lumbar spine disorder and entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran is eligible for specially adapted housing due to his service-connected disabilities, which include a lumbar spine disability and lower extremity radiculopathy. These conditions have resulted in significant mobility issues that require the use of assistive devices such as a cane or wheelchair.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and congenital scoliosis, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of this decision. The Board has remanded his claims for service connection for other disabilities due to lack of evidence in the record.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, chronic sinusitis, COPD, and a tremor of the right hand. The Veteran's conditions were not shown to have started during his active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,There is no evidence that any of these conditions began during the Veteran's period of active service.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations were inadequate to adjudicate the issue on appeal and requires additional development, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal regarding the service connection for a back disorder.

The Veteran's right hip condition is granted service connection. Service connections for left hip and mid and lower back conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for a back disability was denied. The evidence received since the last denial did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's lumbar condition is related to service, and the Board has decided to remand for a VA examination to determine if it is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a lower back disability, including anterolisthesis of L5 on S1 with associated L5 bilateral spondylosis, spondylosis of the lower lumbar spine, chronic lower back pain, and unspecified fracture of unspecified thoracic vertebra. The appeal regarding obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various lower extremity and upper extremity conditions due to inadequate etiological opinions in previous VA addendum opinions. The issues are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for pelvic endometriosis is denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for Graves' disease, colitis, cervical spine/neck disability, back disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left lower leg/shin disability, and right lower leg/shin disability is remanded for further development.

The Board denied an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability prior to November 29, 2012. The case is remanded due to issues with left lower extremity and bladder or bowel impairment.