Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for sarcoidosis, a left foot disability, and a back condition due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The VA is required to provide new examinations or opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examination findings regarding the Veteran's lumbosacral strain.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete range of motion assessments in his lumbar spine and left knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in a previous medical opinion and the need for another opinion addressing whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine disability and sleep apnea due to insufficient opinions from previous VA examiners. The Veteran's lay testimony regarding in-service injuries and symptoms will be considered.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and back disability, as secondary to service-connected cervical spine disability due to inadequate etiology opinions. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his back and neck disabilities has been granted. For the period from October 8, 2015 to June 12, 2016, he is entitled to a 40 percent rating for his back disability. For other periods, including from October 8, 2015 to February 9, 2020 and from April 1, 2020, the Veteran's claim was denied as his disabilities did not warrant a higher rating. The Veteran is also granted a 40 percent rating for his neck disability starting November 17, 2020.

The Board has determined that more development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease, and hypertension. The claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and consideration.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to deficiencies in previous VA opinions and lack of contemporaneous medical records.

The Veteran's appeal for a back condition was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorders, bilateral ankle disorders, and a back disorder due to incomplete development of records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of left thumb condition, low back disability, right lower extremity condition, and left lower extremity condition due to failure to comply with previous remand instructions.

The Veteran's claims for fatty liver, low back disorder, left shoulder disorder, bilateral athlete's foot, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder have all been denied. The issues of service connection for right and left hip disorders and right and left ankle disorders are being remanded.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent effective August 17, 2015. He also received initial ratings of 20 percent for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities from December 31, 2019.

The Board has granted service connection for a thoracolumbar spine condition (claimed as arthritis back condition) and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's current conditions are found to have had their onset in-service, with the VA examiner finding continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's current diagnoses are not related to service, and the Board denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent, effective August 5, 2016. This decision grants a higher rating for his disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis was granted. Increased ratings were granted for patellofemoral syndrome of the left and right knees, as well as limitation of extension of the right knee.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (panic disorder, back disorder, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy) have made it impossible for him to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion from an orthopedic physician regarding the etiology of his scoliosis and degenerative arthritis. The current VA examiner's opinions are inadequate.