Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's disabilities, including right knee, left knee, bilateral hand and back disabilities. The VA will conduct further examinations and obtain medical opinions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's lumbar spine strain, left knee strain, and bilateral knee disabilities due to insufficient examination findings and lack of consideration of functional loss. The Veteran will need additional examinations to address these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied multiple times, but reopened in September 2009. Effective dates prior to September 25, 2009 are being denied.,Effective dates for the awards of service connection have been assigned based on the date of receipt of congressional correspondence.

The Board has found that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder and back disorder are not related to service, thus denying service connection for both conditions. The case is being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of these disorders during or immediately following service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to outstanding VA treatment records, potential x-ray studies, and additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to inadequate medical opinions in the original decision.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for further action regarding his claim of entitlement to a TDIU. The Board finds that the evidence does not show he meets the schedular criteria for assignment of a TDIU, including on the basis of disabilities affecting a single body system (orthopedic), during the entire period on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability as secondary to her service-connected left knee condition. However, it denied service connection for her left hand disability.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings were denied. The right forearm limitation of extension claim is pending with a remand to determine if it warrants an earlier effective date prior to December 21, 2016.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for a back disorder and hypertension. The examiner is asked to determine if there is clear and unmistakable evidence that these conditions preexisted active service or are otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed as he withdrew his claims. The Board has also remanded several issues including low back, right knee, left knee, cervical spine, OSA, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar spine disability and for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran is required to undergo further examination to assess the current severity of his lumbar spine condition, and an assessment of his functional limitations on employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development and scheduling issues. The Veteran's low back disability claim will be reconsidered with additional evidence and a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability and radiculopathy of the lower extremities are being remanded for further development, including obtaining addendum opinions regarding range of motion and need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine prior to August 27, 2021 and for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spine disability from August 27, 2021. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeals to reopen claims for service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating and service connection for his thoracolumbar spine disability and cervical spine disability have been remanded due to procedural issues. The Veteran will need to provide a substantive appeal within the required time frame, and he may also need additional VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU due to insufficient evidence regarding functional loss and the effective date of the TDIU determination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination to address the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and service connection claim.

The Board has granted service connection for a back condition. The bilateral knee condition issue is remanded due to the need for additional development.