Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, low back disability, right ankle disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and/or depression), and prostate disability due to service. The AOJ is directed to schedule examinations and obtain medical opinions regarding these issues.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a back disorder due to insufficient medical opinions and potential scheduling errors. The Veteran's back pain is alleged to be related to his service-connected right knee.

The Board has ordered remand for additional opinions regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee disorder and low back disorder. The issues are being returned to the AOJ for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disorder, diagnosed as lumbar degenerative disc disease. The issue of entitlement to VA nonservice-connected pension benefits and special monthly pension is being remanded.

The appeals seeking increased ratings for right and left knee degenerative joint disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine have been dismissed. The issues of service connection for a left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, right hand/wrist disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and foot disability (including pes planus and plantar fasciitis) are remanded.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with osteoarthritis, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with osteoarthritis, right shoulder impingement syndrome, left shoulder impingement syndrome, bilateral pes planus, and lumbar spine DDD are granted.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a lower back disorder, finding that the obesity aggravated by the service-connected left knee disability was a substantial factor in causing these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his lumbar spine disability and fecal incontinence.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is dismissed as he withdrew his request. The effective date for service connection of PTSD is also dismissed.,New and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a lower back disability, which is now granted. OSA and CFS are also granted with specific effective dates.,The Veteran's left foot fracture and restless leg syndrome have received increased ratings, but their effective dates remain pending.,COPD claims were remanded due to factual disputes regarding the date of claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for sleep apnea is granted, and his claim for a lower back condition (claimed as Lumbar Strain, Low Back with spinal stenosis) is reopened. The issue of service connection for allergic rhinitis is dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and type 2 diabetes mellitus, both of which the Veteran contends were caused by herbicide exposure. The Board found no evidence of chronic low back symptoms during or immediately following service, and the Veteran's denial of recurrent back pain at separation is persuasive against his claim.

The Veteran's low back disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected condition, as he failed to report for a scheduled examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence received since the last denial.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for clarification regarding whether his symptoms manifest as unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or the entire spine, and when these symptoms manifested.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, but TDIU is remanded due to its inextricability with the grant of compensation.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU is dismissed. The Board has remanded the claims of higher ratings for DDD of the lumbar spine, left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with DDD of the lumbar spine, and a left ankle disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current disability meeting VA's regulatory definition.,Service connection for a left hand condition, including the left pinky finger, is denied due to lack of evidence supporting a current diagnosis and no link to service.,Service connection for lumbago with mild osteoarthritis of the thoracolumbar spine (back condition) is granted as it is related to his service-connected left knee DJD.,Service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee is granted as it is also related to his service-connected left knee DJD.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence being added since the last decision, and the Veteran requested a review by the AOJ.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability, tinnitus, or bilateral hearing loss during the relevant periods.