Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the claims for lumbar strain, nerve damage, and an acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD) due to insufficient evidence in some cases. Additional development is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities, as well as issues related to flare-ups and functional impairment.

The Veteran's appeals for TDIU, increased ratings for back disability, hypertension, and radiculopathy have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant during the pendency of his appeal.

The Veteran's sciatic radiculopathy and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine are granted. Service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back, left hip, right hip, left knee, and right knee conditions due to incomplete medical records. The Veteran is asked to provide assistance in obtaining any relevant treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities, bilateral foot disabilities (including acquired pes planus, plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia with callus formation, and hallux valgus), and a lower back disability. The Veteran's current diagnoses are consistent with her in-service symptoms of pain and swelling in her knees and feet.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection for bilateral hearing loss and increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and lower extremity radiculopathy. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the other claims.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and initial ratings for various knee, hip, and spine disabilities have been dismissed due to his request to withdraw the appeal.

The Veteran's left knee, low back, and right hip disabilities are found to be secondary to his service-connected right knee disorder.,Service connection has been granted for fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), both deemed presumptively due to Southwest Asia service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new medical opinion is required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to new evidence of worsening symptoms. The Veteran is not entitled to a rating in excess of 10 percent for his lumbar spine disability, a compensable rating for his surgical scar, or a rating in excess of 50 percent for his right hip replacement. Service connection for sleep apnea has been remanded as well.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with IVDS and right lower extremity radiculopathy were restored to 20% each, but the rating for the lumbar spine was reduced from 20% to 10%. The appeal for a higher rating for these conditions remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inextricably intertwined issues and a need for additional medical examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, left lower extremity nerve damage, right lower extremity nerve damage, left hand carpal tunnel syndrome, and right hand carpal tunnel syndrome due to lack of evidence establishing a link between these conditions and service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration records, conduct VA examinations, and determine if a TDIU is warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of his low back disorder is being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board will request a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current low back disorder began in or is otherwise related to service, including an in-service truck accident during training.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and a right ankle disability, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical records and an examination related to the Veteran's back disability. The current evidence does not contain sufficient competent medical evidence to decide the claim, but it shows diagnosed disabilities, in-service events, and indications of association with service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disabilities and left knee disability due to procedural errors in obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations. The AOJ must ensure all necessary development is completed before readjudicating these issues.