Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar and thoracic spine disabilities, as well as a left hip disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service as a parachutist.,There is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current spinal and hip conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's asthma has been granted service connection under the PACT Act. The remaining issues have been remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected orthopedic conditions have prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education, skills, training, and work history.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and sciatica of the left lower extremity, to include as secondary to a lumbar spine disability, are remanded due to insufficient evidence in the April 2005 rating decision. The Board requires an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician regarding whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's current disabilities began during active service or were noted during service with continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and inadequate opinions regarding her claimed conditions. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records, undergo VA examinations, and have their claims re-evaluated.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20% effective September 9, 2020. Service connection for overactive bladder was denied.

The appeal of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed.,Service connection for a back disorder, neck disorder, right elbow disorder, left elbow disorder, and OSA are denied.

The Veteran's rating for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine was restored to 40 percent, effective September 20, 2018. The appeal regarding a higher rating is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development and need for further examination regarding the Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease with IVDS and lumbar retrolisthesis disability.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a low back disability due to conflicting opinions and lack of clarity on the Veteran's lay statements.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine, cervical spine, right knee, and bilateral foot disabilities prior to August 16, 2022. The claims are now considered resolved.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including any arthritis, is related to his service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic shin splints, left and right, as well as his left and right shoulder conditions, headaches, cervical spine degenerative disc disease (neck condition), radiculopathy of the upper extremities, and lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease. The Board found that there was no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury related to these conditions.,The Veteran's service treatment records did not show any complaints or diagnoses related to shin splints, shoulder conditions, headaches, cervical spine issues, or upper extremity radiculopathy. Post-service VA treatment records also failed to provide such findings.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing conditions were aggravated by his military service.,Service connection is also granted for a lower back condition, but the specific details of this decision are not provided in the given text.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The conditions include COPD, right hip problems, left hip problems, back disability, allergic rhinitis, and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for a back disability and a left knee disability. The Veteran's claims are not yet fully adjudicated.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease and arthritis of the thoracolumbar are found to be causally related to active service.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is granted under the PACT Act, and his degenerative joint disease, thoracolumbar spine rating is restored.,PTSD results in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. His diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction requires restricted diet or insulin therapy from September 19, 2015, to July 7, 2017, and one daily injection of insulin thereafter.,The Veteran's radiculopathy, right lower extremity is granted an increased rating, but tinnitus remains at the maximum schedular evaluation.,PTSD results in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. His diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction requires restricted diet or insulin therapy from September 19, 2015, to July 7, 2017, and one daily injection of insulin thereafter.

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

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability, to include lumbosacral strain, bulging discs and degenerative arthritis. The claim for secondary service connection for left lower extremity and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to lumbar spine disability is remanded.