Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted service connection. The appeals for right thigh, right knee, and sleep disabilities are dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeal. The right ankle disability appeal is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to lack of pursuit.,Service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that the condition had its onset in service or is otherwise related to military service.,New and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection of a lumbar spine condition, but the appeal remains pending.

The Board has determined that additional VA medical evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, and therefore, these matters are being remanded for further action.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of the Veteran's low back disability, rectum prolapse, and hemorrhoids due to lack of recent VA examinations and updated treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting evidence regarding the onset and etiology of his claimed disabilities. Additional VA examinations are needed to determine if any current disabilities are related to service.

The Board has determined that additional evidence has been added to the record and requests a remand for further review of these claims. The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for consideration.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for thoracic muscle sprain with degenerative disc disease and service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

Service connection for PTSD, lumbosacral strain, left knee strain, right knee strain, neck impairment, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and erectile dysfunction has been granted.,Service connection for back impairment, left knee impairment, right knee impairment, and psychiatric impairment has also been granted.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not of sufficient severity to produce unemployability, and the Board finds that she is not unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due solely to her service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's increased rating for low back disability and earlier effective date are denied. Service connection for bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy is granted as secondary to the service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a bilateral knee disability is dismissed as the AOJ has already granted it. The appeals for increased ratings and other issues are pending.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a higher rating, and has remanded for further action on his claims of service connection for back disability and bilateral knee strain.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD), a lumbar spine disability, a respiratory disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, and an eye disability are not supported by the evidence. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee osteoarthritis, as well as a higher rating for her thoracolumbar spine disability, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of left ankle disability. Service connection was granted for right shoulder and thoracolumbar spine disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for the appellant's back condition, finding that there was no nexus between his current condition and an in-service injury. The evidence did not establish a continuity of symptoms since service or show any relationship to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and dismissed the issue of service connection for a left foot disability. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to his bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's GERD, allergic rhinitis and chronic sinusitis, migraine headaches, back disability, and sleep apnea are all granted. The claims for service connection for migraine headaches, a back disability, and sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, effective date determinations, and other claims due to procedural defects in the initial rating decision.