Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has found that the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) did not substantially comply with prior remand directives and has therefore remanded the case for further development, including obtaining clarifying opinions from an appropriate clinician regarding whether the Veteran's back condition is proximately due to or aggravated by her service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from April 20, 2009 to February 10, 2015 due to his service-connected disabilities. However, the TDIU from February 11, 2015 is denied as he is already in receipt of a combined schedular rating of 100 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for a left knee disorder and a lumbar spine disorder due to insufficient information from VA examinations. The Veteran's representative indicated that the Veteran was homeless and did not receive proper notification of the scheduled examinations.

The Board has remanded the claim for further development due to a lack of a VA opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's headaches and her service-connected disabilities, specifically allergic rhinitis. The Veteran is advised to appear for a scheduled VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip osteoarthritis, lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD), and right knee arthritis. The conditions are deemed related to active-duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development on the issues of service connection for TBI, GERD, hypertension, PTSD, and lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was granted with an effective date of September 29, 2010. The Board found that the Veteran was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to her service-connected disabilities as of this date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA records related to his participation in the Vocational Rehabilitation and Education program and medical records from a second spine surgery.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examination, and further development is required.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment consistent with his education, training, and work experience.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and separate ratings for radiculopathy of the lower extremities were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic lumbar strain disability has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, her major depressive disorder remains at a 50 percent rating.,Her claim for an increased rating for major depressive disorder was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and chronic strain with arthritis, right knee due to insufficient evidence in their respective examinations.

Service connection is granted for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) / Arthritis and/or Degenerative Disc Disease of the Spine.,Service connection is also granted for Tendonitis of the Feet, but service connection for Bilateral Hearing Loss and Tinnitus remains pending as additional development is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding VA and Social Security Administration records, as well as for medical opinions on various issues.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, erectile dysfunction, and respiratory disorder. The examiner found that the Veteran's current conditions did not clearly and unmistakably preexist service and were less likely than not incurred in or caused by service.

The Board denied service connection for low back pain in the January 2007 rating decision, which is now being reviewed due to a claim of CUE.,Effective dates for service connection for degenerative arthritis and spondylosis (low back disability) and right hand injury are also remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to be related to his active duty service. The right foot, RUEPN, LUEPN, RLEPN, LLEPN, left hip, right hip, right CTS, left CTS, right hip scar, lumbar spine, CAD, left knee, right knee, hypertension, and ED conditions are not found to be related to his active duty service. The Veteran's Hepatitis C is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or residuals associated with the condition.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided were inadequate, particularly regarding the Veteran's claims for back and right leg/knee disabilities. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional evidence and provide updated medical opinions.