Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for various conditions due to incomplete records and need for further development, including obtaining additional service treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and extraschedular considerations are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as a thoracolumbar spine disability due to additional examination being necessary.

The Board has remanded the cases of the Veteran's low back condition and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions in the previous decisions. The claims are now pending for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disorder, vision disorder, diabetes mellitus, and stroke residuals. Additional development is needed to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for cervical spine DDD and sleep apnea, as well as a rating in excess of 0 percent for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's appeal is currently pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since October 18, 1994. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU based on the combined rating of his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of degenerative disc disease of lumbar spine, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his in-service back strain.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, thus the claims for service connection and evaluation of a left kidney cyst are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and need for additional medical records, particularly regarding joint pain other than thoracolumbar spine, bilateral knees, or right hand.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 30 percent for hiatal hernia with non-erosive esophagitis was dismissed.,Service connection for degenerative disease of the lumbar spine is granted.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a heart disability and prostate disability are remanded.

The Veteran's back condition has worsened, and he is requesting a higher evaluation for his lumbar strain. The Board has ordered a new examination to determine the current severity of his lumbar strain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, hand, and back disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the medical opinions provided.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hearing loss, and lower nerve pain radiculopathy due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions and inextricably intertwined issues of TDIU. The Veteran's left shoulder, low back disability, headaches, acne, and alopecia are all being reviewed for direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension and lumbar spine disability due to lack of a supplemental examination, and further development is needed.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for left upper extremity radiculopathy was granted at a 10 percent rating prior to February 7, 2013. From that date forward, the Veteran is not entitled to an increased evaluation.,For cervical spine degenerative disc disease, the Veteran is denied any increase in his disability rating from March 26, 2014 and until September 15, 2016. A remand was ordered for a determination on whether he should be assigned a higher rating after that date.,The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease with limitation of motion is currently rated at 30 percent from September 16, 2016 and the Board has ordered a remand to determine if a higher evaluation is warranted.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for additional medical records and a review of existing ones. The Veteran's conditions include bilateral flat feet, knee issues, neck pain, high blood pressure, stomach problems, diabetes, headaches, nerve disorders in various extremities, all potentially related to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has denied service connection for left and right knee conditions, as well as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine (claimed as back problem) and a rash on both hands. The case is remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, headaches, and tinnitus to obtain a VA medical opinion assessing whether these conditions are secondary to his service-connected PTSD.