Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection, SMC, and adaptive equipment due to a failure of the Veteran to attend a VA examination scheduled in conjunction with his claims. The claims will be reconsidered after obtaining the requested VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and he is now entitled to compensation for various conditions including low back pain, pes planus, ocular migraine headache disability, and lumbar spine disability with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The issues of increased ratings for tinnitus, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, extraschedular rating for bilateral hearing loss, and entitlement to a TDIU have also been resolved in his favor.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and bilateral hip disability due to insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran is seeking service connection based on his in-service injuries, as well as post-service onset of symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of low back strain is not related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy were denied. The Veteran was granted TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for a low back disorder. The Veteran's lay statements and military records indicate an in-service injury, but further examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his active duty.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is remanded. The Board finds that an addendum opinion is needed as the current opinion does not consider only his service-connected conditions and may have considered non-service-connected disabilities in regard to his employability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right knee disability and service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, as these issues are inextricably intertwined.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by active military service and is unrelated to his service.

The Board has found that the Veteran has shown good cause for missing VA examinations related to his service connection claims. The Board has therefore ordered new VA examinations to determine if any of the claimed conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal and psychiatric conditions due to incomplete development of records from his active duty service.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for the left knee disability including due to undiagnosed illness, leaving only the claims of service connection for left shoulder and lumbosacral strain.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and private treatment records, and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease are related to his active duty service, and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions. The issues of service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and lumbar spine disorder have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine and right leg disabilities due to incomplete records. The case will be returned to obtain any missing private treatment records.

The Veteran's back disability was granted an increased rating of 20 percent from April 12, 2011 to October 30, 2017. Separate compensable ratings were granted for right and left knee lateral instability.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his back disability and associated lower extremity radiculopathy was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of the conditions, including IVDS.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disability, a higher rating for low back disability, and TDIU due to outstanding treatment records and further VA medical assessment.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the merits of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives and further development is necessary.