Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, including degenerative arthritis, DDD, and lumbar strain, based on continuous symptoms since service.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a low back disability due to lack of substantial compliance with its February 2023 remand directives. The case is now pending again.

The Veteran's low back disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and TMJ disorder are granted with specific ratings. The issue of a separate compensable rating for urinary incontinence associated with the service-connected back disability is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the inadequacy of the May 2017 VA examination and the need for a new examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board has decided that the reduction in the Veteran's cervical spine disability rating is improper and remands for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability. The matter will be further reviewed and a new VA examination is required.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for acid reflux, lumbar spine disorder, bilateral knee disorders, and bilateral heel pain due to inadequate VA examinations. The AOJ is instructed to send the claim file to an appropriate clinician who will provide opinions on whether the Veteran's conditions had onset in active service or are otherwise causally connected to his service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for upper back and cervical conditions, as secondary to head/face injuries. The VA Form 10182 was submitted late, but the April 2019 statement of the case is considered the decision on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the effective date for service connection of thoracolumbar spine disability cannot be earlier than December 10, 2020 due to the finality of the November 1969 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeals for CUE in a January 20, 2015, rating decision denying sleep apnea and service connection for a low back disability are dismissed due to the procedural requirements not being met under the modernized review system (AMA).

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on his knee and back conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.

The appeals for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a back disability are dismissed as the Veteran's claims were improperly docketed under the AMA.,The appeals for neck, left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities are also dismissed due to improper docketing under the AMA.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his in-service injury and continuous post-service pain.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, and further evaluation is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic headaches, lower back disability, sleep apnea, and hypertension, all of which are found to be directly related to the Veteran's active-duty service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, but his bilateral hearing loss and left eyebrow scar are denied. The right hand condition, right knee condition, right ankle condition (claimed as secondary to right knee condition), and lumbar spine condition (claimed as secondary to right knee condition) are all remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of ratings for cervical strain, thoracolumbar strain, and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to a failure to obtain all treatment records from VHA's approval of the Veteran to seek treatment via the Veterans' Choice Program.,Specifically, the Board is requesting that VA attempt to obtain all treatment records generated from VHA's authorization for the Veteran to receive health care through the Veterans' Choice Program. These records are believed to contain relevant information pertaining to his service-connected psychiatric disorder.

The Board has denied service connection for multiple conditions, including right hip disorder replacement, eczema, right shoulder rotator cuff chronic residuals, degenerative disc disease of the cervical, hypertension, left shoulder rotator cuff chronic residuals, right knee DJD, left hip disorder replacement, and lumbosacral neuritis radiculitis thoracic, all of which are determined to not be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his current conditions are caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for lumbar spine disorder, psychiatric disorder, nerve impingement of the legs, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, and left foot disorder. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the issue of service connection for lumbar spine disorder.