Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous instructions, and will now consider whether the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate VA examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hip, knee, lumbar spine, lower extremity radiculopathy, and foot disorders. The VA examiner is requested to provide nexus opinions considering the Veteran's service duties as a combat medic and his reported in-service injuries.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities are remanded due to the need for a new VA orthopedic examination.

The Board granted service connection for a lower back condition, hearing loss, and tinnitus based on new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, heart disorder, hypertension, and psychiatric disorder due to issues with evidence development and need for additional opinions. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is claimed as aggravated by his second period of service.

The Board granted service connection for residuals of a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) and a lumbar spine disability, to include degenerative disc disease (DDD), based on new and material evidence.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for a back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination findings regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, specifically regarding functional loss and range of motion. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and left knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.,Secondary service connection was also established for right hip, left hip, and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral foot condition, presbyopia and astigmatism of the eyes, obstructive sleep apnea, left upper extremity radiculopathy, sciatic nerve radiculopathy, femoral nerve radiculopathy, surgical scars on knees, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, total right knee replacement, cervical strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, tinea corporis and onychomycosis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, rectal fissures/hemorrhoids, malaria residuals, and service connection for TDIU have been granted. The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates were denied.

The appeal for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability and residuals of a left eye injury was dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of the claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions regarding his claimed disabilities and exposure history.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate examination and incomplete record. The Veteran's lower back condition is being evaluated again, and her neck condition requires a VA examination to determine its relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and a psychiatric disorder are being reconsidered de novo due to the receipt of relevant official service department records.,Service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU prior to February 16, 2010 are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his back disability.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and sciatica, finding that the preponderance of evidence does not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining his VA Vocational Rehabilitation program file and determining if he was unemployable due to service-connected disabilities prior to January 31, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for DJD of the lumbar spine and cervical spine were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The appellant withdrew their appeals for all service connection issues except PTSD and TDIU, resulting in the dismissal of these appeals.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and thoracolumbar spine DJD, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.