Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his conditions, particularly in relation to military environmental exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and need for further examination. The issues of back, neck, and tailbone disabilities are being addressed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical examination and opinion regarding the onset of the Veteran's lower back disorder and hypertension. The claims are pending further evaluation.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's Barrett's esophagus was granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected reactive arthritis (previously diagnosed as Reiter's syndrome) of the left ankle. The other issues were remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including left shoulder, cervical spine, lumbar spine, sleep apnea, hypertension (claimed as light-headedness), and loss of memory. The case is therefore REMANDED.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence received, including STRs and military personnel records. The issues are related to bilateral knee conditions, right ankle condition, back condition (DDD), and bilateral foot condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding increased ratings for a low back disability and right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as separate compensable ratings for bowel and bladder impairment. The issues were previously remanded by the Board but have now been withdrawn by the appellant's representative.

The Board has granted a 10% rating for the Veteran's service-connected residual scars from back surgery, but denied an increased rating for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent, but the Board has granted a higher rating of 40 percent effective from specific dates for certain periods.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disorder, including consideration of his in-service motor vehicle accident and post-service treatment. The case is being remanded for an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, a low back disability, and a left knee disability due to lack of current diagnoses or evidence of such disabilities during the pendency of the claim.

Service connection for neck and back disorders is denied.,A compensable initial rating of 30 percent, but no higher, has been granted for vertigo.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left hand/thumb disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, and right knee disorder due to inadequate opinions regarding their etiology. The decision on the left foot disorder claim is pending.

The Board has granted a TDIU from January 20, 2005 and has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for generalized arthralgias in the shoulders, elbows, knees, hands, thumbs, and lumbar spine is being remanded due to his failure to attend a scheduled VA examination. The Board will schedule another VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine due to secondary service connection. The hernia residuals claim is also remanded for a new VA examination to address limitation of motion. TDIU remains deferred pending further development.

Your appeal for service connection for a back disorder has been dismissed because you withdrew your appeal before the decision was made.

The Board's decision is vacated due to a denial of due process, and the Veteran is granted an opportunity to submit additional evidence.

The Board has determined that another remand is necessary to comply with prior Board remand directives and obtain additional medical opinions for the issues of service connection, rating, and hypertension.