Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for additional examinations and records, particularly related to recent surgeries and evaluations of the Veteran's left shoulder and low back disabilities, as well as his anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain a new VA examination for her service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Board will then readjudicate the claim.

The Veteran is unable to secure and maintain gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, but the issues of service connection for other conditions are still pending. The TDIU claim must be remanded until these service connection claims are resolved.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as an adjustment disorder with depression, is dismissed without prejudice.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for a back disability is denied. The evidence does not show forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine less than 60 degrees or a combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine of 120 degrees or less, which would warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records, and further attempts are needed to obtain the appellant's service records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for back disability and bilateral foot disability due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability due to aggravation by the service-connected left knee and/or left ankle disabilities. The claims for increased ratings for various other conditions, as well as the TDIU claim, are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability and dismissed the claim for bilateral hearing loss. The back condition claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims due to a failure to obtain all VA treatment records from May 2016 onwards.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for updated VA and private treatment records, as well as a new examination to assess the current severity of his thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lower back disability and hip disability. The Veteran must be scheduled for appropriate VA examinations to determine the nature, status, and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The appeal for a compensable disability rating for right inguinal hernia was dismissed. The claims for service connection for back disability, bilateral flat feet, and ear disability were remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for DJD of the low back was reopened and granted. However, his claim for service connection for a migraine disorder was denied.

The petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a right knee disability is granted. The decision on asthma, lower back disability, left knee disability, and sleep apnea claims are remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy of both lower extremities are rated at 40 percent, with TDIU granted from April 19, 2012, and SMC at the housebound rate granted from April 22, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are etiologically related to his active service, granting the claims for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his low back disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination. The issue of service connection for a sleep disorder secondary to his low back disability has been raised but not submitted on an application form.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence added to the record, and also requested additional opinions from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disorder and left knee disorder.

The Veteran's low back condition warrants a disability rating in excess of 10 percent, and the Board has ordered a remand to determine its current severity.