Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for a low back disorder and left ankle condition, as they are related to service-connected residuals of a left tibia fracture. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition, tibia and fibula bone fractures, bilateral hip bursitis, left hip condition, right hip condition, pleurisy (chest pain), left foot condition, right foot condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has decided the claim is remanded due to the Veteran's failure to attend VA examinations for a secondary service connection theory. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected IVDS (previously rated as myofascial lumbar syndrome) was granted, with an effective date of August 4, 2022.,A separate issue regarding radiculopathy of the right lower extremity due to service-connected IVDS was also addressed and granted.

Service connection has been granted for lumbar spine, left hip, and right hip disabilities.,The claims of service connection for left knee and right knee disabilities are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and for further medical development, including obtaining an addendum opinion and requesting SSA records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right ankle disabilities, as well as a back disability, due to insufficient reasons and bases in the previous decision. The claims are being returned for further development and readjudication.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches, recurring cellulitis, and vertigo has been granted. The claim for a compensable rating for status post fractured right mandible is remanded due to lack of evidence of functional impairment. Service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine remains pending.

The Board has determined that there are outstanding records from the Social Security Administration and a new psychiatric examination is needed. The issues of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, increased rating for the service-connected psychiatric disability (now diagnosed as persistent depressive disorder), and TDIU have been remanded.

The Veteran's hearing loss has been rated at 0 percent since April 26, 2013. The Board found no evidence of worsening and denied an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. Service connection for a lower back disorder, sinus disorder, and sleep apnea is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased disability evaluations in various conditions, with some issues granted and others not. Service connection for a lung disorder was also established.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his in-service combat-related injury and its impact on his current disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a degenerative low back disability, finding that there was no credible evidence of an in-service injury or chronic symptoms since service. The Board also found that any current low back disability is not related to his service-connected right foot disability.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been reopened and is granted.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, left ankle disability, cervical spine disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, low back disability, and skin condition of the left foot have not been reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for chronic lumbar strain and TDIU from May 1, 1986 to April 28, 1993 due to inadequate statements of reasons and bases, failure to ensure fair process, and inadequacy of the April 2019 VA examination. The Veteran's claims are remanded for additional medical examination and consideration.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to January 4, 2015 has also been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left knee, right knee, and low back disabilities due to a lack of clarity regarding the Veteran's theory of entitlement. The Veteran now contends that these conditions are directly related to her service, specifically an injury she sustained in October 1990 during her active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU as his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.