Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has denied reopening the claim for service connection for a low back condition and has remanded several other issues including evaluations for knees, ankle, and psychiatric conditions. The case is also remanded to obtain updated VA examinations and opinions regarding these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions addressing his lay statements and testimony regarding in-service injuries, as well as his current symptoms. The VA must provide new opinions on whether it is at least as likely as not that any currently diagnosed disabilities are related to active service.

The Veteran is granted a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective from May 10, 2011. The issue of special monthly pension (SMP) benefits is dismissed as moot due to the greater benefit provided by TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of adequate explanation regarding the effect of painful flare-ups and repeated use over time on the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disorder and bilateral leg pain due to lack of evidence showing the conditions are related to service. The Veteran's PTSD claim is remanded as there were errors in obtaining unit records.,Service connection for heart, skin, enlarged prostate, erectile dysfunction, and sinus disorders is also remanded due to lack of evidence showing the conditions are related to service.

The Board dismissed the appeal of three issues related to sleep apnea, left shoulder disability, and lumbar spine disability due to the appellant's withdrawal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been reopened, but not yet decided.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete or inaccurate factual premises in a previous VA examiner's opinion. The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and low back disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to procedural issues, lack of adequate medical opinions, and need for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lower back, right knee, and unspecified eyesight disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran must be provided with VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, including range of motion measurements and functional limitations. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the rating issue.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for asthma has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal. The Board has remanded several other issues related to various disorders, including headaches, bilateral eye disorder, chronic sinusitis, skin disorder, neck disorder, upper back muscular disorder, left elbow disorder, left wrist disorder, right wrist disorder, left hand disorder, right hand disorder, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, left leg shin splints, right leg shin splints, and left foot disorder. The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD, sleep apnea, tinnitus, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left knee patellar chondromalacia, and right knee patellar chondromalacia have also been remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining retrospective opinions from a VA orthopedist regarding the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder and left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy. The TDIU issue is also within scope of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the appeal is not properly before the Board under the new Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act (AMA) and requires a remand to address these issues using the legacy system.

The Board has decided to remand several claims related to the Veteran's disabilities, including ratings for scars and radiculopathies of the lower extremities. The appeals are being sent back for further action.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right wrist, right knee, and low back disabilities. The cases are being remanded for additional development regarding her left wrist and left knee disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disability, but granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as these conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's lumbar strain disability is currently rated at 10 percent prior to June 17, 2016 and the Board has found this rating not warranted. The Veteran's condition was remanded for further examination.,For the period since June 18, 2016, the Veteran's lumbar strain disability is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar disorder had its onset during service and granted her claim for service connection.