Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to conflicting medical opinions and gaps in treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for SMC at other than the housebound rate was denied as he did not meet the criteria for this benefit during the specified period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are secondary to his service-connected postoperative stage A teratoma of left testicle with orchiectomy. The case is being remanded for addendum VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's death was caused by intracranial hemorrhage, and his diabetes may have contributed to the development of other health issues such as hypertension, eye disorder, and erectile dysfunction. The Board finds that additional medical opinions are needed to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations due to new evidence received within a year of prior decisions. The issues include back disability, bilateral lower extremity venous disability, and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a low back condition has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for a low back condition and hearing loss due to insufficient examination reports. The Veteran's current conditions are being reviewed again with additional opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for a retrospective medical opinion to determine the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability between April 2003 and September 2011, as the rating criteria were amended in 2003.

The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating based on the current evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection for back and left leg disorders. The Veteran's claims are not related to exposure to specific hazards like burn pits, Agent Orange, or Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased ratings due to new evidence being added to the record. The Veteran's VA treatment records need to be updated, and a supplemental statement of the case should consider all relevant evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, left shoulder disability, and residuals of a head injury to obtain additional service records related to the Veteran's reported fall in July 1969.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to the need for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, trapezius muscle spasms, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder.

The Board has determined that new opinions are needed regarding the Veteran's service connection claims for back and bilateral knee disabilities due to incomplete consideration of his lay reports. The case is being remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was previously rated at 10 percent prior to June 15, 2022, and increased to 40 percent from October 1, 2022. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and bilateral shoulder disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain VA treatment records and conduct a peripheral nerve examination to determine the nature, etiology, and severity of all lower extremity disorders related to lumbar strain.

The Board denied service connection for gout of the left and right ankles, lumbar spine disability, sinusitis, acid reflux, carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist, and hypertension as there was no evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine disability and sciatic radiculopathy of the lower extremities have been denied due to failure to appear for scheduled examinations without good cause.