Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates have been dismissed as the relevant rating decisions are final.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for PTSD, Lumbar Spine Condition, and Cervical Spine Condition due to new evidence received after the January 2016 denial. The Veteran's current service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to November 16, 2021, for service connection for lumbosacral strain is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbosacral strain is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding range of motion and functional impairment.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for paralysis of lower extremities, including as secondary to a back disorder, is remanded due to the need for an appropriate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lower back, skin, and right knee conditions due to inadequate medical opinions in previous decisions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted an earlier effective date of July 23, 2018 for his total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. Additional evidence is needed, including private treatment records and VA examination opinions.

The Board has determined that there is no new and relevant evidence to support readjudicating the claims for service connection for left little finger injury, low back disability, residuals of cold injury, frostbite of both feet, and neck disorder. The Veteran's assertions have been considered in previous decisions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work experience. Therefore, the claim for a TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hammer toes, pes cavus, right shoulder disability, and a back condition have all been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have current disabilities for any of these conditions.,There is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that it is as likely as not related to his in-service service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete verification of his claimed periods of active duty and additional verified service records are needed. The AOJ must readjudicate the claims with consideration of all available evidence.

The Board has determined that there has not been substantial compliance with the development sought as part of the September 2021 remand. As a result, the claims for service connection are being remanded to allow for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment beginning October 4, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his low back disability is dismissed because he withdrew the appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and left knee patellofemoral syndrome was denied. The rating for the lumbar spine condition prior to August 1, 2022 is still denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain a medical opinion from an orthopedic specialist regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including his right toe disability, bilateral leg disability, and low back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and bilateral shoulder disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the service treatment records.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to the need for new VA examinations and consideration of the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's joint pain disabilities of the hands, elbows, legs, shoulders, and wrists are granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The claim for joint pain disability of the low back and musculoskeletal chest is remanded due to lack of a VA medical opinion addressing causation or aggravation by PTSD. The claim for headache is also remanded for an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and a lumbar disability, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service.,Service connection was denied as there is no medical link between the Veteran's current disabilities and his period of active service.