Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's left ankle disorder, claimed as joint pain, is granted service connection. The back disability claim is denied. The obstructive sleep apnea claim is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board finds that a remand is necessary to determine if the Veteran's preexisting lumbar spine disability was aggravated by his active duty service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of a back disorder, and the Board dismissed it.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted a 40% rating, but no higher. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to incomplete records of his active duty and Reserve/NG service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was dismissed because the July 2020 decision was deferred for further development and the NOD was premature.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and anemia, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active duty service. The appeal is based on new evidence presented since previous denials.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The issues of service connection for a back disability, left foot disability, and right foot disability are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA examination and medical nexus opinion regarding the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, which is presumed to be related to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, including determining its relationship to his service-connected bilateral knees disabilities and any other relevant factors.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations, and a new examination is needed to provide specific range of motion measurements for pain on active and passive motion, during flare-ups, and upon repetitive use.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and an increased rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability. The Veteran was not diagnosed with PTSD, and his stressors were not verified. For the lumbar spine disability, the evidence did not show forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, nor did it indicate favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.

The Veteran's low back disability and associated neuropathy are being remanded for further examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected conditions. Additionally, there is a proposed severance of service connection for right lower extremity neuropathy and left lower extremity neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the claims for hemorrhoids, neck disorder, and back disorder due to a lack of clarity regarding the Veteran's current address and his interest in participating in the requested examinations.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for a headache disability has been granted.,Service connection for lumbosacral strain with right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right knee patellar enthesopathy, and asthma are all found to be related to service. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to lack of a current diagnosis.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disorder, right and left shoulder disorders, cervical spine disorder, left and right ankle disorders, headaches, chronic pain syndrome, left shin splints, and right shin splints. The case is being remanded to allow for further examination and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded four issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including lumbar strain, migraines, right fifth digit injury, and penis condition (including erectile dysfunction). The reasons for remand include inadequate medical opinions and missing private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for service-connected low back disability is denied. The evidence does not show that the condition meets or approximates the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, hypertension, glaucoma, a back disability, diabetes, and OSA have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities (right and left) and right shoulder disability are remanded for further examination and analysis.