Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of timely receipt of a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) and for obtaining additional medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a lack of exercise capacity testing in the VA examination. The service connection claims for low back disorder, bilateral foot disorder, and psychiatric disorder are denied.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for GERD, service connection for a right shoulder disability, and service connection for a back disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and his sciatic nerve radiculopathies are each rated at 10 percent. The appeal for higher ratings remains denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the low back disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and reopened the claims for acquired psychiatric disorder and low back disability, but remanded these issues due to additional development needed.,The Veteran's hearing loss was not found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, scars associated with low back disability, and left leg disability associated with low back disability due to lack of legal merit as these disabilities are not shown to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to the need for an addendum medical opinion regarding functional loss and flare-ups, as well as a determination of whether fecal incontinence is related to service-connected IVDS.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tension headaches has been reopened and is being remanded. The claims for PFB, right shoulder disorder, low back disorder, and bilateral foot tinea pedis are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a GI disorder and a low back disability, as well as his TDIU claim, have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for either condition.

The Board has decided to remand six separate claims of service connection for various disabilities, including a right hand broken finger disorder, low back disorder, left ankle disorder, left knee disorder, right shoulder disorder, and hypertension. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of cutaneous coccidioidomycosis, lumbosacral strain, and prolapsed intestinal cord status-postoperative hemorrhoidectomy. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's low back disability was granted service connection, but his metastatic rectal carcinoid and other conditions were not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected low back disability is granted, and he is also granted TDIU based on the severity of his disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back condition and right ankle condition, finding no new and material evidence to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various foot, hand, knee, shoulder, back, and eye disorders due to incomplete records from the Veteran's reserve service.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition and updated treatment records. The issue of SMC based on need for aid and attendance is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his request for a withdrawal of the appeal. The Board dismissed the case as there are no allegations of errors in the determination.