Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to determine if there is a relationship between the Veteran's current low back and bilateral foot disabilities and his active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied as a result of his failure to report for a necessary VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been found to meet the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating prior to November 23, 2021. The appeal regarding other conditions has been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal for additional development and readjudication due to incomplete records, inadequate medical opinions, and other procedural issues.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset and causation of his disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hallux valgus and service connection for a back disability are being remanded due to outstanding issues such as scheduling of a DRO hearing and fulfilling the Privacy Act request.

The Veteran's back condition is granted service connection, but his left hand arthritis, bilateral elbow degenerative arthritis, right hand arthritis, and right carpal tunnel syndrome are denied.

The Veteran's neck disabilities, diagnosed as a cervical strain and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, are granted service connection. The low back and left knee disability issues have been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the issues of rating excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine disability and hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is etiologically related to his active military service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 10 percent before April 12, 2021. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating as her range of motion has been within normal limits throughout the appeal period.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disorders due to a lack of VA examination, and requests that new evidence be obtained.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate reasons and bases for denying initial ratings for lumbar strain prior to May 25, 2016, and from May 25, 2016. A new VA examination is needed to assess the current nature and severity of the Veteran's lumbar strain.

The Board has determined that additional evidence was added to the claims file after previous decisions and remands. The Veteran's appeal is being returned to the AOJ for review of this new evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disability and bilateral foot disability due to new evidence received since the last denial. The Veteran's low back disability is being examined to determine if it is related to his military service, while his bilateral foot disability requires an opinion on whether it was aggravated by service or pre-existed service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons or bases for denying an increased evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected low back disability. The Court found that the Board failed to address evidence indicating additional functional loss and disregarded the Veteran's statements about pain and movement limitations.

Service connection is granted for arthritis of the low back. The issue of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for hypothyroidism is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for lumbosacral strain with IVDS is dismissed. A 50 percent rating, but no more, is granted for migraine headaches. Service connection is granted for bilateral pes planus and denied for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB). The issue of service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is remanded.

Your appeal has been dismissed because the Veteran passed away during the pendency of your case.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and left ankle disabilities due to lack of compliance with previous remand directives. The VA Regional Office is required to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of these disabilities, as well as verify the Veteran's period of active duty for training or inactive duty training.