Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various injuries, including bilateral eye scars, cervical spine injury, left and right knee injuries, lumbar spine injury, and right hip injury. The claims are being returned to VA for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back condition, finding that it was not incurred during active service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of separation from active duty.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease at L5-S1, status-post hemilaminectomy and discectomy, and chronic left L-5 radiculopathy were denied as the evidence did not show incapacitating episodes or unfavorable ankylosis of the spine.,The Veteran was not granted a rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease at L5-S1, status-post hemilaminectomy and discectomy, due to lack of evidence of incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition was reopened and granted. The September 1993 rating decision denying service connection is also revised.

The Board has granted a separate rating of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, but denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's low back strain has not improved under the conditions of daily life, and her claim for a higher evaluation is remanded. The TDIU issue is also remanded.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection of residuals of status post external meatotomy and prostatitis, as well as DDD of the lumbar spine. The claims were reopened in August 2010 based on new evidence, but the original denial decisions remain unchanged.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of TMJ, as well as examinations for left sided sciatica, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, right ankle sprain with instability, sinusitis, status post lumbar spine scar, and spermatocele, status post vasectomy. The claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and examination.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type II, and low back disability as the evidence did not show a direct relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for low back and left knee disabilities, as well as service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability. The Veteran will need to undergo new VA examinations to assess her current functional limitations and etiology of her psychiatric condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion on the Veteran's TDIU claim to clarify his work history as a military contractor.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of a low back disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and right knee disorder due to secondary service connection. The case requires an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician regarding whether these conditions are aggravated by the service-connected left knee disorder.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, as appeals do not survive their deaths.

The Veteran is seeking a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to February 29, 2008. The Board has determined that the claim should be remanded for further development and consideration by the Director of Compensation Service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for various conditions, including those related to exposure to environmental contaminants in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during his Persian Gulf War service, is being remanded due to insufficient rationale and conflicting information provided by previous VA examiners. The Board requests new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions and new contentions from the Veteran's representative. The Veteran is seeking service connection for degenerative disc disease of the spine, which was previously denied in April 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to increased ratings for service-connected disabilities and the TDIU issue. Additional development is needed before a final decision can be made.