Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for thoracolumbar and cervical spine disorders due to incomplete records, inadequate medical opinions, and need for further examination.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic lumbar strain, left leg radiculopathy, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The issues include seeking higher ratings, establishing service connection, and determining if he is unemployable.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to incomplete evaluations, including lack of opinions regarding the etiology of her musculoskeletal conditions and skin disorder. The issues are inextricably intertwined as they all relate to reactive arthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck, back, left hip, left shoulder, and right and left leg disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his knee disabilities due to incomplete examination reports, lack of medical evidence regarding onset of conditions during service, and need for additional development. The case will be returned to the Board for further action.

The appeal for gout is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claim.,The petition to reopen a low back disability claim is granted and the case is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The service connection claim for residuals of left breast mass removal due to Camp Lejeune exposure is remanded for an examination and medical opinion.,The service connection claim for a low back disability is also remanded for an examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are currently rated at 30 percent prior to October 15, 2018. The Board finds the disability picture shown in the October 2018 VA examination report best represents her disability for this period.,The Veteran has multiple service-connected disabilities that require further evaluation and clarification of their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that his current condition is related to in-service incidents and his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine condition and a left knee condition as secondary to his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 40 percent for the period from August 27, 2007 to July 21, 2013. The Board has determined that additional development is needed due to conflicting evidence regarding the extent of his disability during this time.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for more current examination of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, as the most recent examination is remote and does not reflect the current severity.

The rating reduction from 40 percent to 20 percent for the Veteran's back condition, effective February 1, 2019, was improper and restored. The Veteran is also entitled to a new VA examination to assess his current back conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including PTSD, right shoulder, left shoulder, back, neck, and respiratory conditions are denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his current condition and service. The case is now pending with a request for an addendum opinion from the clinician who provided the June 2022 DBQ.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, and degenerative disk disease thoracolumbar spine due to lack of verification of National Guard service and need for VA examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for glaucoma, white matter disease, dementia, lumbar spondylosis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The claims are based on presumptive service connection due to exposure to ionizing radiation in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The issues of increased ratings for lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of lower extremities, cervical spine disability, and radiculopathy of upper extremities are being returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his lower back condition. The remaining issues of service connection are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including consideration of newly-obtained service records and medical opinions. The appellant's current hearing loss disability does not meet VA criteria for a hearing loss disability. For other conditions, the Board finds that there is no evidence to support their onset in service or relationship to service.