Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's tinnitus, skin disorder, left foot and ankle disorders, back disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and bilateral knee disorder are all remanded for further examination and determination of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis lumbosacral spine and neck arthritis. Service connection for sciatica is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for adjustment disorder, PTSD, bilateral plantar fasciitis, bilateral pes planus, and thoracolumbar spine disorder have been granted effective from October 4, 2010.

The Veteran is entitled to an effective date of May 3, 2013 for the assignment of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), as this was when he first met the schedular requirement.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and lumbosacral strain were granted with an effective date of August 1, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and right knee disability were denied. The Board found no nexus between the disabilities and service or a service-connected condition, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's initial ratings for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities have been reopened. The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an opinion regarding the etiology of her cervical and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition was reopened and granted. The Board found that the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination and clarification of the Veteran's employment status. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for cervical degenerative disc disease and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected right upper extremity reflex sympathetic dystrophy, right anterior thigh reflex sympathetic dystrophy, and thoracolumbar spine disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to address functional loss during flare-ups.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Board has granted a TDIU from April 16, 2012. However, the case is remanded for consideration of whether a TDIU was warranted prior to that date on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the onset of the Veteran's back disability and the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a new VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a back disability has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and development of records, including a need for an additional VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives and deficiencies in the medical opinions provided.

The Board has ordered new examinations to determine the nature and cause of various disorders, including back disorder, atherosclerosis, cerebral infarction, loss of teeth, left shoulder disorder, gallbladder disorder, GERD, muscle spasms, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, hyperlipidemia, and peripheral vascular disease. The Veteran was exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and ionizing radiation but the medical opinions are needed for these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records, specifically those contained in VA's VistA imaging system. The Veteran is seeking a higher disability rating for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine prior to April 17, 2019.