Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeals for a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for a back disorder, and service connection for polycythemia vera were dismissed as the claims remained denied in the November 2021 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability from May 4, 2007 to May 16, 2012 was denied. A 40 percent rating has been granted effective August 16, 2023.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical evidence on direct service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, which may be related to active service including a documented motor vehicle accident in Vietnam in 1970. The Veteran's claims are now pending again.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence being added since the last decision, and the Veteran's request for AOJ review of this evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and evaluation, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the relationship between the appellant's service-connected disabilities and her claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right knee disability, left knee disability, and back disability due to inadequate VA opinions. The Veteran's disabilities are associated with service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to missing VA examinations and potential need for additional medical opinions regarding toxic exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with DDD is granted an initial disability rating of 40 percent, effective February 4, 2015.

The Board has remanded four issues related to secondary service connection for back, left knee, bilateral ankle, and bilateral foot disabilities due to the service-connected right knee disability. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's ratings for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome and left lower extremity radiculopathy are restored to their effective dates. The Veteran is also remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities, including whether he has right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to be related to his in-service herbicide exposure. The claim for service connection for prostate cancer is granted.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, including degenerative disc disease, arthritis, and lumbar stenosis, has been granted service connection as a direct result of his in-service injury during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are now considered. The Board has also remanded several other issues due to the need for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating issues due to insufficient medical records. The case is also remanded for an addendum opinion on PTSD, a headache disability evaluation, and VA examinations for lumbosacral strain, DDD, Schamberg's disease, and hypertension.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative disc disease with spondylosis of the lumbar spine, hernia, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, acquired psychiatric disorder, and valvular heart disease have all been denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within the applicable presumptive period.,The Veteran's current diagnoses do not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals regarding the service connection for lower back disability, left shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, and a compensable rating for hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted.,The Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for a low back disability has been granted, but the issue is being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if service connection can be established for low back disability and residuals of cyst removal.

The Board has decided that another remand is necessary to obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder and to schedule a VA examination for his nonservice-connected pension claim. The service connection issue remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings and service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and a heart condition is remanded due to inconsistencies in the examination reports and need for further development regarding exposure to toxic environmental risks.