Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development due to missing non-VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the cases for further action due to issues related to the appellant's discharge and service connection claims. The specific issue of whether his character of discharge constitutes a bar to VA compensation benefits is also being addressed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and the need for additional examinations.

The Board has dismissed all appeals regarding the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ratings and service connection claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations and consideration of her claims for increased ratings and TDIU.

The Veteran's lumbar spine DJD and LLE radiculopathy were denied an increased rating.,The Veteran's RLE radiculopathy was granted a 20 percent disability rating, but not higher from December 22, 2021.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left shoulder condition, headache condition, cervical spine condition, lumbar strain, and right knee condition due to insufficient evidence of service connection. The Veteran contends these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received, but further development is needed before a final determination can be made.

The Veteran's lumbosacral disability is rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds that there is not an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence to warrant a higher rating. The issue of TDIU prior to January 14, 2016 is remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the remaining issues on appeal, including obtaining service treatment records and any relevant United States Postal Service medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to the need for clarification of the Veteran's claim and for VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for clarification on whether the Veteran is seeking to appeal solely the rating reductions or both the rating reductions and increased ratings from 1986.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed back, left hip, right hip, and left knee conditions. The claims are being remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that the Appellant's claim for VA disability benefits related to a low back disability is remanded due to the need for additional service treatment records and an opinion regarding whether her current condition is related to her active duty special work in June 1989.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is etiologically related to his period of active service and granted service connection for this condition. The remaining issues, including chronic cough, bilateral hearing loss, and a lumbar spine disorder, are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's hypertension requires medication for continuous control and warrants a 10 percent rating. The Board has granted a higher 10 percent rating, but remanded due to worsening symptoms. Service connection claims are also remanded for VA opinions on the etiologies of back disability, neck disability, hearing loss, sleep apnea, prostate cancer, and PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding service connection claims for a back condition, left knee gout (claimed as gout), and hypertension. The issues are related to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability but denied service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD). The appellant's low back strain existed prior to his period of active duty and was not aggravated by service. His current DDD is not related to service.

The Board granted service connection for low back disability, denied service connection for left shoulder disability and tinnitus, and remanded the claim for arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary artery disease).

The Veteran's back disability was rated at 20 percent from April 28, 2016 to April 7, 2019. The Board denied a TDIU prior to April 8, 2019 due to insufficient evidence showing the Veteran could not secure or follow substantially gainful employment.