Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection for major depressive disorder, erectile dysfunction, cervical condition, and low back condition are granted. The case is remanded to obtain VA examinations for the cervical and low back conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a lower back condition due to inadequate medical opinion and need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hip disability is related to his military service, while the low back disability does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's low back disability is related to his active service, including a jeep accident in service and civilian work-related injury.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no evidence of a current right or left leg disorder. The claims for service connection for hip disorders are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.,The Veteran has not been diagnosed with a current right or left leg disorder, and his hip disorders are not considered aggravated by his lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development due to the addition of new VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that the remand orders were not substantially complied with, and thus the issues of service connection for low back disability, bilateral sensitive feet, hypertension, and sleep apnea are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a residual muscular impairment due to in-service decompression sickness, right shoulder disability, and low back scar. The nose scar was granted an initial 10% rating but not higher.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his low back condition and bilateral knee conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since May 20, 2008. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's ability to work prior to July 24, 2014. The Veteran needs a VA occupational evaluation to assess his employability with his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's back disability was rated at 20 percent from January 22, 2010 until October 19, 2017. The Board denied a higher initial rating in excess of 20 percent for the period.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded to attempt to verify his service in Southwest Asia and obtain any missing personnel and medical records. The Board will then adjudicate the reopened claims based on the evidence received.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and missing SSA records. The Veteran's lower back disability is being reviewed again as part of this process.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease, lumbar radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, osteoporosis right knee with degenerative arthritis, and degenerative arthritis of the left knee, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on these service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his lumbar spine disability was denied, and he is now receiving a 20% rating. The claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar and cervical spine with sensory neuropathy and radiculopathy is being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding etiology. The examiner needs to provide more definitive reasoning without relying solely on the absence of evidence.

The Veteran's left ulnar neuropathy was granted service connection. For the period prior to February 16, 2017, a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spine disability was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spondylosis and degenerative disk disease. The issue of entitlement to service connection for migraines is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back condition, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as his claim for PTSD. The issues have been returned to the RO for additional evidentiary development.,The VA examinations did not find a direct link between the Veteran's current spinal conditions and his military service.