Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand several issues, including the Veteran's claims for service connection for his bilateral thigh disability as secondary to his service-connected back disability and for increased ratings of various disabilities. The decision also includes a request for additional VA examinations and an updated VA Form 21-8940.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right leg condition was denied, and his increased rating claim for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine prior to September 16, 2019 was also denied. The Board found that there is no evidence linking current right leg cramps to in-service injuries or disease, and that the Veteran's current degenerative arthritis does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's IVDS is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. The issue of entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected IVDS is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD has been reopened, and the Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to support these claims. Service connection is granted for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depression, PTSD, and substance use disorders).

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied because he does not have any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, pes planus, and back disorder. The TDIU claim is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease and spondylosis of the lumbar spine is at least as likely as not related to his active service, including a back injury in 1982. As such, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for a low back disability and an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD). The examiner must address whether these conditions are related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral knee osteoarthritis and back condition are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's painful left elbow is denied as not having a current diagnosis related to service. ,The Veteran's residuals of decompression sickness are denied as there is no current diagnosis.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for back disorder and remanded all other issues related to her hip conditions, stomach condition, tension headaches, and unspecified urinary tract condition. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for post-operative removal of undescended right testicle, lumbar scoliosis, and head injury and intestinal pathology with surgery due to lack of military personnel records. The Veteran's assertions about his service locations and exposure need to be verified.

The Veteran's low back, right knee, and right foot disabilities are being remanded for review of additional evidence. The acquired psychiatric disorder is also being remanded with a request to consider an initial rating in excess of 50 percent prior to March 23, 2019, and in excess of 70 percent thereafter.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for a back disability. However, the claim itself remains denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to active duty service.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for back, neck, and arthritis conditions were inadequate due to lack of substantial compliance with its November 2019 remand. The case is being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension, bilateral hearing loss disability, and low back disability were denied service connection. The hypertension was granted a 10% rating. Service connection for the other conditions could not be established due to lack of in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his back disability prior to August 18, 2010 and a TDIU due to inadequate examinations in previous decisions. The Veteran is currently service-connected for DJD and DDD of the thoracolumbar spine with L4-S1 fusion, rated at 20 percent since June 1, 2009.

The Veteran's right TKR, right knee scar, left TKR (secondary to now service-connected right knee disability), low back pain (diagnosed as degenerative disc changes) and right foot drop are all granted. The effective date for the grant of SMC based on loss of use of one hand is set at December 18, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected episodic iron deficiency anemia was denied.,Service connection for a low back condition, to include as secondary to service-connected anemia, was also denied.

The Veteran's application to reopen a claim for service connection of his right ankle condition was denied. The claim for left ankle condition is also denied. Service connection and increased disability evaluations are denied for mechanical thoracolumbar strain and left wrist tendinitis, respectively.,Service connection cannot be established as there is no evidence of current or past left ankle conditions. For the right ankle condition, while the Veteran has reported pain, there is insufficient evidence to establish a current diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative lumbar disc disease, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate VA examinations that did not account for functional loss from flare-ups and repeated use over time.