Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided were inadequate and remanded for further development, including a new examination to determine if the Veteran's lower back, bilateral hip, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities are related to service.

The Board has decided that the service connection for a lower back disability should be remanded due to incomplete records from the appellant's reserve service.

The Board has remanded the claims for a lumbar spine disability, sciatic pain of the left lower extremity, and sciatic pain of the right lower extremity due to deficiencies in the record existing prior to the appealed decision. The Veteran's service treatment records document recurrent back pain after he initially reported it in 1970, and post-service treatment records show several complaints for lower back pain.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his current condition is related to his service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability claim will be remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. A VA examination and opinion are needed to determine if the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability had its clinical onset during service or is otherwise related to any incident of service, including a naval ship hatch incident that resulted in back pain.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for radiculopathy, left lower extremity will be remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. A VA examination and opinion are needed to determine if the Veteran's current condition is related to his lumbar spine disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for radiculopathy, right lower extremity will be remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. A VA examination and opinion are needed to determine if the Veteran's current condition is related to his lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection due to the fact that entitlement arose from worsening of pre-existing disabilities, as evidenced by May 2020 disability benefits questionnaires (DBQs).,No new evidence was submitted within one year prior to the receipt of the intent to file in October 2019.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring further development of VA and private treatment records related to the Veteran's back disorder and radiculopathy.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's disability was related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions provided do not comply with the remand instructions and thus, the claims for service connection are being remanded again.

The Veteran's right knee disability is related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. Service connection for this condition has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his back condition prior to August 7, 2019 was denied as the evidence did not show forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine 30 degrees or less, favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, or IVDS.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right sciatic radiculopathy from August 7, 2019 onwards was denied as the evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, or IVDS with incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least six weeks during the past 12 months.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's knee and back conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and service connection due to incomplete development of records, need for additional examinations, and other procedural issues.

The Board has ordered a new medical opinion to determine the cause of the Veteran's neck disorder and whether a service-connected right shoulder disorder aggravated it.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when considered individually, do not preclude him from engaging in gainful employment. Therefore, a TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder with anxious distress, lumbar spine disability, painful scars of the right knee, hypertension, and other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, obstructive sleep apnea secondary to PTSD, and a back condition due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran must be provided with VA examinations to determine if his conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, right knee, and left knee disorders due to incomplete development of records and inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Board has granted effective dates of November 4, 2010 for the Veteran's entitlement to a TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for a lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, which are claimed as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability. The examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion addressing whether these disabilities were incurred during service or due to in-service injury/illness, caused by her service-connected left knee disability, and if so, what the baseline level of disability was prior to aggravation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and lack of evidence regarding his in-service exposure to asbestos and herbicide agents.,Specifically, the Board requested an addendum VA opinion or examination to address whether the Veteran's BPH, cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, eye disorder, hypertension, and heart disorder are related to service.