Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded two issues: one regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and another for her chronic constipation. The remand is due to concerns about the adequacy of previous examinations, particularly in relation to Correia v. McDonald (2016).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claim is now granted.

The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability is granted. The appeal is allowed in this respect, but the issues regarding antiphospholipis syndrome and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service treatment records and a need for a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's low back disability is related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back and cervical spine disabilities, as well as his claim for hypertension secondary to PTSD. The case requires further development with additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for a low back disorder and remanded the issue of determining whether he is entitled to service connection for such condition. The case will be sent back to VA for an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy. The VA is instructed to obtain Social Security Administration records and provide an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran’s hypertension and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and incomplete factual basis. The Veteran's back disability is being reviewed again with new evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various foot and knee disabilities, including low back disability. The legible copies of the Veteran's service treatment records from his period of active duty need to be obtained.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development and further appellate consideration.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted, effective from August 1, 2012. The TDIU is granted subject to the statutes and regulations governing the payment of compensation.

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

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric or other disability claimed as 'Mad Cop' disease is denied. The appeal for service connection of a low back disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back injury, as well as the need for additional records.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for low back disability, residuals of a right arm burn, left knee disability, sleep apnea, pulmonary embolism, diabetes mellitus, type II, and insomnia. The appeals are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The appeal is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.,The Veteran's hearing loss disability ratings remain unchanged, with a zero percent rating prior to December 12, 2019 and a ten percent rating thereafter.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the denial of a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is service-connected as it was shown to have had its onset in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic back disorder during active service or within one year of separation. The Board also found that any present back disability is not etiologically related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for a respiratory disability and remanded the low back disability claim due to insufficient evidence.