Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for an addendum opinion addressing range of motion and functional loss due to pain, as well as retrospective measurements for the entire claims period.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a back condition (other than syringomyelia) due to concerns about the competence of the VA examiner who provided an initial opinion. The case will be returned for further development and consideration by an orthopedist.

The Board has determined that service connection for hypertension is not warranted as there is no diagnosis of hypertension in the record.,The nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back condition to include degenerative arthritis of the spine with sciatica, and headaches to include tension headaches and as secondary to service connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus (claimed as migraine headaches) are unclear due to insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran must be scheduled for an appropriate VA examination.,The Board has determined that service connection for headaches is not warranted as there is no diagnosis of a chronic condition in the record.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability is granted, and the issue of TDIU is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and confirming that no outstanding records exist.

The Board has denied service connection for low back and cervical spine disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis B, alopecia, and hypertension as secondary to HIV. The claims for a back disability, right knee disability, chest pain, colitis, and ulcers of the rectum were also denied.

The Board has remanded several issues, including the rating of PTSD and low back disability, as well as service connection for a heart condition. Additional development is needed to obtain non-VA treatment records, ensure adequate VA examinations, and address functional equivalence claims.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral hip disability, and bilateral leg disability (secondary to the lumbar spine disability).,Service connection was not granted as there is no evidence of chronicity or continuity of symptoms related to these disabilities during service. The Veteran's current conditions were not shown to be etiologically related to his in-service incidents.,The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral leg disability, while a current condition, did not have an established link to his lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, including all issues related to service connection for various disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar and sacral spine disabilities, cervical spine disability, and headache disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's IBS is rated at 30 percent, the maximum allowed under DC 7319. The lumbosacral strain remains rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining supplemental opinions from VA medical professionals to address whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and/or knee disabilities caused or aggravated his claimed conditions.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to insufficient retrospective opinions regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative joint disease (DJD) from December 2010 to June 14, 2021. The case will need to return for a proper retrospective opinion.

The Board denied service connection for left knee and right knee conditions, as well as an increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine. The claims were based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or secondary service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that her current diagnosed condition is related to her military service and resolving all doubt in her favor.

The Veteran's lumbar spine, bilateral hand, right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities are service-connected. GERD, sleep apnea, and breathing disorder were not found to be related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee pain, cervical spine pain, lumbar and thoracic spine pain, and bilateral hip pain. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service parachute jumping activities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability was initially denied in November 2008 and reopened due to new evidence. The claim for left knee disability was also reopened, but the psychiatric disorder claim remains denied.,The Veteran's right hip disabilities were granted effective from May 17, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, neck, and low back conditions due to incomplete verification of his service periods and deficiencies in the VA opinions.