Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU, including obtaining private treatment records and conducting new VA examinations. The claims are being remanded.

The Board denied increased ratings for lumbar myositis, residuals of a fracture of the little finger of the right hand, and traumatic arthritis of the ring finger of the left hand. The appellant's conditions are currently rated as noncompensable.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions are inadequate and the claims for service connection must be remanded again. The Veteran's left knee, right shoulder, back, bilateral ankles, and erectile dysfunction disabilities are being reviewed to determine if they are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disabilities, specifically residuals of a compression fracture of the L1 vertebra and degenerative disc disease (DDD) and degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the lumbar spine, as secondary to his service-connected right knee instability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability and remanded it due to the need for additional VA examinations. The claims for service connection for fibromyalgia are also remanded.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are granted service connection as they are related to his service-connected lumbar spine strain. The Veteran's left hip condition is remanded for further evaluation due to insufficient opinions in the previous examinations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar, sinus, right carotid artery, and left lung disorders. The claims are being remanded to obtain missing service treatment records and to schedule VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for updated VA medical records, new examinations, and additional development regarding his reported stressors. The PACT Act requires a VA examination and opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's disabilities and in-service toxic exposures.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to the evidence being in equipoise regarding its onset during service.,Service connection for a respiratory disability, including chronic cough (also claimed as bronchitis and rhinitis), is granted based on the evidence showing it began during service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left knee condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD and depression), migraines secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder, and sleep apnea secondary to migraine disorder. The Veteran's hearing loss is not rated higher than 0%.

The Veteran's hypertension and tinnitus were granted initial ratings, while the overactive bladder condition was granted a maximum schedular rating. Service connection for stomach condition, carpal tunnel syndrome, back condition, high cholesterol, low vitamin D, and left knee condition were denied.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected chronic pain conditions. The issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than MDD, bilateral metatarsalgia, right knee degenerative joint disease, left knee degenerative joint disease, mechanical low back pain with degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI is currently rated at 70 percent disabling, effective November 23, 2016. The Board finds that additional examination and/or evidence are needed to determine if a higher rating is warranted prior to this date.,The Veteran's status post compression fracture T-12 and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 20 percent disabling. The Board finds that additional examination and/or evidence are needed to determine if a higher rating is warranted.,The Veteran's cervical degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that additional examination and/or evidence are needed to determine if a higher rating is warranted.,The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is currently rated at 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that additional examination and/or evidence are needed to determine if a higher rating is warranted.,The Veteran's left hip strain affecting limitation of extension is currently rated at 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that additional examination and/or evidence are needed to determine if a higher rating is warranted.,The Veteran's left hip strain affecting limitation of flexion is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board finds that additional examination and/or evidence are needed to determine if a compensable rating is warranted.,The Veteran's stricture of the esophagus is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board finds that additional examination and/or evidence are needed to determine if a compensable rating is warranted.,The Veteran seeks service connection for right hip disability, which may be secondary to his left hip disabilities. The Board finds that additional examination and/or evidence are needed to determine if this condition is related to his service-connected conditions.,The Veteran seeks service connection for sleep apnea, which may be secondary to his service-connected conditions. The Board finds that additional examination and/or evidence are needed to determine if this condition is related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected lumbosacral spine, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and TDIU. The reasons include the need for updated examinations due to potential worsening of the conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability did not have its onset during service and is not related to an in-service injury or disease. As a result, the claim for service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions and potential missing VA treatment records. The Veteran's back disability is being reviewed for direct service connection, without considering secondary service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for low back degenerative disease. Bilateral hearing loss is found to be related to in-service noise exposure, while the low back disability is not shown to have been incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back and right knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing whether these conditions are related to service-connected disabilities.,Further clarification is needed regarding the relationship between the Veteran's antalgic gait and her service-connected ankle disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, but the issues of service connection for DDD of the thoracolumbar spine and essential tremors are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.,Service connection is being granted for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to his military noise exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining updated medical opinions regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and any acquired psychiatric disorder.