Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's ulcer and back conditions. The issues of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, facet arthrosis, and an ulcer are being addressed.

The Board has remanded the case for a determination on whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to July 2, 2014. The decision is pending further review.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and re-adjudication due to inadequate VA opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right breast cancer, Graves' disease, and low back disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and that any current condition is not related to active service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records and provide additional opinions regarding his lumbar strain and insomnia.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back and cervical spine disabilities, attributing them to his in-service car accident. The appeal is now remanded for further evaluation of other claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that his current condition did not begin during or as a result of his military service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for COPD, rating higher than 20 percent for low back strain with facet arthropathy, and rating higher than 10 percent for left knee patellofemoral syndrome with pes anserinus. The issue of rating higher than 10 percent for right knee strain remains remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting opinions on whether the Veteran's current back disability is related to service. The claim will be reviewed again with a new addendum opinion from the VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion to address whether the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, specifically his lumbar spine disability and other conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's respiratory disability and musculoskeletal disabilities. The claims will be reconsidered on their merits, with a focus on whether these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active duty.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete assessments of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and sciatic radiculopathy. The VA is required to schedule a new examination to assess the current severity and manifestations of her service-connected conditions, including range of motion measurements in active and passive motions under weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing circumstances.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral foot condition, and back condition due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service.,No new or material evidence was presented to reopen the claims for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lower back disability and right hip arthritis, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection of left and right shoulder disabilities, as well as low back disability, need further examination and opinion due to inadequate previous VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service jeep accident and its relation to his current back disability. The case is now pending for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including for opinions on service connection for low back and left knee disabilities, as well as coronary artery disease. The claims are not about exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, Gulf War, or any other specific exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and low back disabilities due to insufficient rationale in the July 2020 VA medical opinions. The matter is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to his service-connected disabilities, which have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's TDIU claim due to unclear reasons for denying his service-connected disabilities and failure to adequately explain why he was not considered unemployable. The appeal period began before a rating increase, so evidence up to one year prior is considered.