Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning in its previous decision and for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a TDIU examination.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his lumbar spine degenerative disc and joint disease with herniated discs and bilateral foraminal stenosis, as well as associated radiculopathy of the lower extremities, is being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and missing VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the cases of ischemic heart disease and lower back disability for further development. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for ischemic heart disease is not considered a full grant, as he did not explicitly state his satisfaction with the 30 percent evaluation. For the lower back disability, the Board found that the VA examination was incomplete and requested an addendum opinion to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination. The Board will consider whether in-service noise exposure caused or aggravated his current hearing loss, tinnitus, and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's current hypertension had its clinical onset during her period of active duty service, and the Board finds that service connection for hypertension is warranted.

The Veteran's lumbar strain is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.,Obesity is not considered a disease or injury for which service connection may be established.,Service connection for hypertension and fibromyalgia are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions, requiring further examination and analysis.,Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome is also remanded as the claim was not addressed in detail previously.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending with additional development needed.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc syndrome, as well as urinary incontinence associated with these conditions. The Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition, bilateral feet condition, and right hand condition due to inadequate medical opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and consideration, including obtaining an opinion regarding whether his sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected sarcoidosis, as well as addressing the conflicting evidence of arthritis in both feet versus no arthritis found on recent x-rays. The issues include entitlement to service connection for various conditions such as sleep apnea, foot disabilities, TBI residuals, headaches, PTSD, and increased ratings for sarcoidosis and back disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination details regarding flare-ups and pain, as well as issues with range of motion testing. The Veteran's disability ratings for his low back condition are being reviewed.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, right upper extremity thoracic outlet syndrome, and left upper extremity thoracic outlet syndrome. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to determine the current level of severity of his disabilities and to provide opinions on whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from maintaining gainful employment, and the Board denies his claim for a TDIU.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is restored to a 40 percent rating effective June 1, 2018. The Veteran's headache and acquired psychiatric disabilities are each granted increased ratings of 50 percent.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine disability and residuals of eye injury as the evidence did not show a direct relationship to service.

The Veteran's back disability, PTSD, and bilateral radiculopathy have been granted a combined rating of 70 percent. The TDIU claim has also been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of continuity of symptoms since service and insufficient evidence to support a finding of causation.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a lumbar back disability and granted it, finding that new evidence received since the last final denial raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the Veteran's claim.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70% rating from December 5, 2012 to September 8, 2015. The VA has remanded the cases for cervical disorder, low back disorder, and blood disorder claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented her from maintaining gainful employment effective from March 30, 2012. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantial gainful employment since March 22, 2012. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.