Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for DDD of the lumbar spine and residuals of right knee arthrotomy with a scar due to incomplete VA examinations and lack of relevant evidence. The case must be returned for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 100% disability rating effective April 10, 1999. The initial 50% rating for lumbosacral strain remains unchanged. Service connection for endometriosis with partial resection of the cervix and fibrocystic breast disease is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing VA medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the Veteran's lumbar strain and right shoulder disorder, including obtaining a new examination to assess the extent of his disability.

The Board has granted service connection for low back pain and right wrist pain, finding that both conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology and aggravation of the Veteran's cervical spine disability, which is related to his service-connected medial neuropathy of the right hand/carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right knee disabilities. The Veteran is also being asked to complete a VA Form 21-8940 regarding his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's current low back disability is granted as service connected due to the rigors of his active-duty service.,Service connection for insomnia disorder is granted on a secondary basis, as it was caused by his service-connected tinnitus and now service-connected low back disability.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hand arthritis. As such, there is no longer any due process error that requires a second Board hearing; the JMR did not find any errors in the hearing with respect to the other claims.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The conditions are deemed to have begun during active service.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on his right and left knee conditions, as well as service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and cervical spine, are being remanded due to new evidence received since the last adjudication. Clarification is needed from a VA examiner regarding whether these conditions are related to his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD, back condition, and RLE radiculopathy. The Veteran's claims for headaches, right knee condition, left knee condition, and TDIU are also remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, erectile disorder, left toe foot fungus, and low back pain as the evidence does not show a link to active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, nocturnal bruxism, a scar on the right eye following an accident, retinal degeneration, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (claimed as bilateral sciatica), and other conditions. The Board found no current disabilities or sufficient evidence to establish service connection.

The Board has determined that new VA examinations are necessary to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and right knee disabilities, as well as to determine the nature and etiology of his back and neck disabilities. The claims for increased ratings for PTSD and right knee disability remain pending.

The Board has determined that the issue of TDIU from February 17, 2023 is moot due to the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder receiving a 100% rating. The claim for TDIU prior to February 17, 2023 is remanded for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for a back disorder. The decision on the back disorder is based on direct evidence showing no in-service injury or disease, with no continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's right thumb disability is related to his service-connected right wrist fracture, and the Board has granted a separate rating for this condition. The issues of service connection for PTSD and a back disability are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the service connection for a low back disability. A VA examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU prior to July 21, 2022 due to insufficient evidence in some cases. The issues of service connection are being addressed, with a focus on whether the disabilities are related to service or service-connected conditions.