Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has found a pre-decisional duty to assist error and finds that an addendum VA medical opinion is necessary. The examiner should determine whether the Veteran’s radiculopathy of the left lower extremity resulted in mild, moderate, moderately severe, or complete paralysis at any point during the period on appeal (October 28, 2011 through the date of his RAMP opt-in).

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.

The Board dismissed all the appeals for service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination findings and outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is being evaluated again for an increased rating.

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis from September 1, 2003 until December 16, 2014 due to his service-connected lumbar spine spondylosis and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any lumbar spine disability, including as demonstrated by X-ray studies from October 2013 to February 2017. The examiner must address whether any other manifest lumbar spine disability resulted from a superimposed disease or injury during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to May 7, 2020, finding that his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a back disorder, an eye disorder (glaucoma), and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claims are currently pending.,The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is intertwined with the other issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral shoulder condition and a back condition due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is required to provide medical opinions linking his current conditions to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether any low back disability manifested within one year of separation from service. The Veteran's claim will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine ruptured disc with stenosis and degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current disability was not shown as chronic in service or within a presumptive period, and was not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury.

The Board denied service connection for neck condition, low back strain, and left arm condition (secondary to neck condition) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70% rating prior to April 26, 2017. The other issues on appeal were remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability before May 20, 2014. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include asbestos-related plaques, degenerative disc disease of the cervical and lumbar spine, rhabdomyolysis (right and left lower extremities), and tinnitus.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and has remanded the issue of whether he is entitled to service connection.

The Board has remanded the claim due to incomplete service records and a need for clarification regarding the nature of the appellant's service in Honduras. The appellant must provide additional information or evidence, and VA will attempt to obtain any necessary records.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to outstanding medical records and a need to provide requested documents.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for heterotopic ossification of the tibia with osteochondroma, lumbar and thoracic spine conditions, and cervical spine degenerative disc disease due to the Veteran's death.