Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the medical opinions and need for additional development regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease, an acquired psychiatric disorder (likely PTSD), and a low back disability are being remanded due to incomplete development.,The Board notes that the RO did not substantially comply with prior remand directives regarding verification of chemical exposures and stressor allegations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, specifically whether it existed prior to service or is related to active service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy, bilateral lower extremities due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to new and material evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, and left hand middle finger condition due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to May 7, 2009 and increased ratings are being remanded as the evidence is insufficient to determine when entitlement arose or if earlier effective dates are warranted.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is also being remanded due to his recent testimony indicating that his disabilities have worsened since his last VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for a lumbosacral spine disability, including his periods of active duty training and any related treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, as well as increased ratings for his low back disability, cervical spine disability, sciatic radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, and radiculopathy of the left upper extremity. The primary reasons were that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his service-connected disabilities or any other known risk factors.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and his right lower extremity, left lower extremity, and low back disabilities are not shown to be causally related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine and right knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and his urinary incontinence.

The Board has found that more development is necessary prior to final adjudication of the claims for service connection for a back disability and a headache disability. The Veteran's current diagnoses include intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and degenerative arthritis of the spine, as well as a current diagnosis of a headache disability. The VA medical examiner has not provided an adequate opinion on the nature and etiology of these disabilities.

The Board has determined that more development is necessary to determine the nature and extent of any employment during the pendency of this appeal, as well as the etiology of the Veteran's cervical and thoracolumbar spine conditions. The claims for service connection are being remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted service connection, and her right knee arthroscopy residuals are granted a 10 percent rating effective May 24, 2013. The Veteran also received separate ratings for symptomatic residuals of a right knee meniscectomy.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 20 percent prior to March 30, 2022, and increased to 40 percent thereafter. The ratings for RLE and LLE radiculopathy remain as assigned.

The Veteran's right hip disability is currently rated as noncompensable prior to May 18, 2015. The Board has found that a compensable rating for this condition is not warranted.,The Veteran seeks increased ratings for his thoracolumbar and shoulder disabilities. The Board finds remand necessary to obtain clarification on the presence of radiculopathy and an updated VA examination.,The Veteran seeks service connection for sleep apnea due to exposure in the Persian Gulf. The Board has found that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of her anxiety disorder, low back pain, neck disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to potential changes in her condition since the last VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to a raised issue of entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status. The Veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC at level S, but may still qualify for SMC if he is permanently housebound.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that his current condition did not begin in service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease. The evidence showed no chronicity of symptomatology during active duty and no nexus between the current condition and service.