Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from November 19, 2007.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during active service.,Both conditions are considered to be directly related to service without requiring any presumption or secondary link.

The Veteran's cervical and left finger laceration claims are denied. The lumbar spine disability claim is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and further development is required. The Veteran's neck and back disabilities are still on appeal for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities, as well as tinnitus. Service connection was also granted for hypertrophic calluses of the left foot and right foot.,Service connection was denied for sinusitis and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is granted a 40 percent rating prior to June 10, 2019.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to a need for medical opinions regarding when the Veteran's upper extremity radiculopathy first manifested and whether it is associated with his service-connected neck disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for abnormal menstrual cycle, hearing loss, right leg disorder, left leg disorder, lumbar muscle strain and degenerative arthritis (also known as osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease), and pelvic muscle spasms due to mild diastasis of the pubic symphysis have been dismissed. The Veteran's claims for service connection for these conditions are all granted.,The Veteran's hearing loss, right leg disorder, and left leg disorder were previously denied but new evidence has now reopened these claims.

The Veteran's claim for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease secondary to service-connected bilateral foot disabilities has been granted. The claims for right and left ankle disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss, have been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for further evaluation and clarification of certain issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder and its relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA examiner's opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current back disability is etiologically related to his periods of active duty service from May 2007 to May 2008 and/or March 2013 to February 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied. The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar back strain, right ankle residual status-post fracture, PTSD, complex cyst right kidney, and left ear hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a lumbosacral condition as new and material evidence was not received, and the current evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) and stomach condition are remanded for additional medical opinions to determine their etiology.,The Veteran's hypertension is remanded because no VA examiner has provided a nexus opinion on its presumptive service connection under the PACT Act. The Veteran's total potential toxic exposure throughout his military service must also be considered.,The Veteran's right and left ankle conditions are remanded for additional medical opinions to determine their etiology, specifically considering his in-service injuries and repetitive jumping with a 100-pound backpack on his back.,The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is remanded for an additional medical opinion to determine its etiology, specifically considering his in-service right ankle sprain.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to allegations of worsening symptoms since previous examinations.

The Veteran's initial rating for radiculopathy of the left upper extremity prior to February 22, 2022 was denied.,An increased rating in excess of 40 percent for radiculopathy of the left upper extremity from February 22, 2022 is also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the positive and negative evidence is in approximate balance that his currently diagnosed lumbosacral strain is etiologically related to his active duty service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for insomnia disability and denied his claims for right thigh, bilateral hand, bilateral foot, seizure disorder, shin splints, eczema, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity neuralgia, lumbar scar, psychiatric disability, migraines, cystic acne, and hiatal hernia with gastritis and history of healed gastric antral ulcer.