Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and a left eye disorder, finding that there is no current diagnosis of these conditions and the evidence does not support their occurrence during active duty.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease due to conflicting medical opinions and a need for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease, tension headaches, and depressive disorder are all granted. The Veteran is also awarded a TDIU effective from May 3, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is etiologically related to her active-duty service.

The Veteran's headaches are currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent, and a higher rating is denied.,The Veteran's sliding hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux warrants a 10 percent rating based on symptoms such as pyrosis, reflux, regurgitation, and substernal pain. A higher rating is denied.,Service connection for the low back disability was previously denied in a final May 2008 decision. The claim has been reopened due to new evidence received since then.,PTSD was not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus service connection is denied.,Chronic fatigue syndrome was not incurred or aggravated by service, and thus service connection is denied.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar disability was previously denied a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to June 7, 2021 and is now denied a higher rating effective June 7, 2021.,Entitlement to OSA service connection is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that it had its onset during service or due to exposure to environmental hazards in the Persian Gulf.

The Board has remanded the cases for further consideration due to new evidence added to the record since the last decision. The Veteran's claims of a higher rating and reduction in disability rating are pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for a lumbar spine disability, neuropathy/radiculopathy of upper and lower extremities due to unresolved issues with medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an adequate VA medical opinion and providing copies of the examiners' CVs.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and scoliosis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for back impairment has been reopened and granted. Service connection is also granted for neck, left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, and right knee impairments. The claims for these other conditions are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives regarding service connection for lumbar spine, right hip, and left hip disabilities. The Veteran's claims are being returned to the AOJ for additional examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, bowel incontinence, and bladder incontinence are inadequate. The claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 must be remanded to obtain new opinions from different providers.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spondylithiasis and spinal stenosis, as well as radiculopathy of the lower extremities, were denied. However, he was granted a TDIU effective January 28, 2015.

The Veteran's TDIU rating is currently effective since January 7, 2021. Prior to this date, he was rated as 30 percent disabled for bronchial asthma, 10 percent disabled for a thoracolumbar spine disorder, 10 percent disabled for tinnitus, and 10 percent disabled for a cervical spine disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an addendum medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's lower back and upper back disabilities are related to service, including pes planus.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are rated at 40 percent effective May 31, 2006 for the back condition and September 15, 2013 for the bilateral radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection of right hip, left hip, and lower back disabilities as secondary to his service-connected right inguinal hernia disability due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a thoracolumbar spine disorder and hypertension due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran contends that he developed these conditions during service, but there is evidence suggesting they may have existed prior to his entry into active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to address verification issues and the need for updated medical records. The Veteran's current address must be obtained, along with information on his medical providers who have treated him since April 2015.