Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations to assess the current nature and severity of his service-connected disabilities, including residuals of CVA, back pain, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The appeals for service connection are also remanded as there was insufficient evidence in the record regarding the relationship between the Veteran's claimed conditions and his service-connected CVA.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions regarding his mental health conditions during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that her service-connected conditions do not render it impossible for her to obtain or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cardiac disability, diabetes mellitus, right leg amputation, bilateral neurological disability of the lower extremities, and back disability due to potential herbicide agent exposure at Mactan Air Base in the Philippines. The claim for SMC is also remanded as additional evidence was received since the last statement of the case.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability (to include as secondary to right knee), and low back condition (to include as secondary to right knee) due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and her military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, lumbar spine, and left lower extremity nerve disabilities due to conflicting medical opinions and the Veteran's failure to report to scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,The appeal for sleep apnea has been rendered moot by the grant of service connection in a previous decision.,Initial disability ratings for left and right ankle disabilities are remanded due to lack of adequate medical examination addressing functional loss during flare-ups and repetitive use over time.,Service connection for residuals from nerve agent exposure is remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of these conditions.,Service connection for lumbar spine disability, secondary to service-connected bilateral ankle disabilities and acquired PTSD, is remanded due to lack of a medical opinion addressing causation or aggravation by service-connected disabilities.,Service connection for obesity (as an intermediate factor leading to back condition) is not addressed in the decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and treatment records, requiring further evaluation of the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incomplete analysis in their May 2021 decision regarding a higher rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability since September 25, 2002. The Veteran is seeking a higher rating than 40 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and an inadequate medical examination. The Veteran's non-VA chiropractic records need to be obtained, as well as relevant VA records since May 2021. A new opinion from a qualified clinician is needed regarding whether the low back disorder had onset in active service or is otherwise causally related to active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and lumbar spine disabilities as secondary to his service-connected left knee replacement are being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic headaches and arthritis of the cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and left ankle rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since his retirement in October 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back, knees, and neck conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU from November 5, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of a recurrent thoracolumbar spine disability during service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a respiratory disorder, and a lumbar spine disorder, as well as an increased evaluation for PTSD.

The Veteran's bladder disability (urinary incontinence) is not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a nexus between the current condition and service. The right knee, left knee, right hip, left hip, and lumbar spine disabilities are also not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and bilateral tinnitus have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for dermatitis has been remanded due to the lack of a VA examination addressing his chest condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and insufficient medical evidence to establish a nexus between the current condition and service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance, leading to the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) at the L-rate.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of back condition is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in the previous VA examination.