Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck, back, right hip, left hip, right arm, right knee, and right ankle disorders due to unsuccessful attempts to contact him at his current address.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his service-connected back condition and for entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected conditions. The remand is necessary because additional development, including an examination of the Veteran's back condition, is required.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbosacral strain was denied. The Board also found that the criteria for TDIU prior to October 28, 2020 were not met and remanded this issue.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for headaches, blurry vision, vertigo, a low back disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives regarding verification of alleged exposure to hazardous chemicals during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for entitlement to service connection for a right hip and back disabilities due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives. The case is now returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot, left leg, and low back conditions have been granted. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding bilateral pes planus, right knee condition, and left knee condition.

Your appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to the appellant's death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to proceed with these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbosacral strain, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome. Additionally, the TDIU claim is also being remanded due to new evidence potentially impacting employment status.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed for the issue of an increased initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The right elbow scar has been granted a 10 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision. Other issues are REMANDED for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his right hand and back conditions, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for a left leg disability, low back disability, and headaches due to lack of evidence.,Further development is needed to determine if there are any service-connected disabilities that may be related to the Veteran's reported in-service injuries.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss disability has been denied. Service connection for a right hand disability, back disability (spondylolisthesis), depression, right hip disability, and neck disability have all been remanded due to incomplete or conflicting medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for eosinophilic esophagitis and denied service connection for a lower back disability. The Veteran's eosinophilic esophagitis is found to be related to his active service, while there is no evidence of a current diagnosed lower back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability and entitlement to a TDIU due to inadequate examination findings and outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spine, bilateral knee, and left ankle conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment as of May 31, 2018. The Board has remanded the issues related to sleep apnea and a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability prior to May 31, 2018.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not adequately addressed by the current evidence and requires further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for a left hip disability. However, the lumbar spine disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its relationship to the service-connected left hip disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether his obesity was an intermediate cause of his claimed disabilities, and whether any of his sleep apnea, hypertension, back condition, or radiculopathy were proximately caused by or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent since December 11, 2009. Separate ratings of 10 percent are assigned for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with the low back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee, left knee, and back disorders. The Veteran's conditions are found to have originated during active duty service.