Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The appeal for an effective date prior to December 22, 2005, for the award of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine is dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee and lumbar spine disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in the previous decision.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested to withdraw all remaining issues in the appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for colon polyps and cervical polyps have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of right upper extremity tremor, left upper extremity tremor, degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, and right shoulder disability for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for epicondylitis of the right elbow and a back condition, claimed as intervertebral disc syndrome with radiculopathy due to failure to comply with prior remand directives.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea, migraine headaches, cervical spondylosis with myofascial pain syndrome, lumbar DDD, and bilateral ankle tendonitis, render him incapable of re-entering the workforce and working in any substantially gainful capacity. The Board has granted his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was rated at 10% from the initial rating period and granted a 40% disability rating for the period between November 15, 2018, to June 10, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment since April 16, 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher evaluations for his service-connected lumbar spine, bilateral knee instability, and right knee limitation of motion due to inadequate VA examination reports. The case is also remanded for a retrospective opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine status post lumbar fusion throughout the period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in the VA examination and lack of a diagnosis for the Veteran's back condition. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are believed to have aggravated his low back disability.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss, ringing in ears (tinnitus), lower chin condition, and lower back condition for further development due to new evidence added after the last decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding whether his right shoulder disability is aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder disability and whether any of his claimed disabilities are related to obesity or weight gain secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings on his left knee, low back, and shoulder disabilities are remanded. The TDIU claim prior to May 13, 2016 is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for hypothyroidism. The claims for back condition, GERD, and basal cell carcinoma are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's right knee disability was granted a 20 percent rating effective December 15, 2021. The back disability received a 40 percent rating from October 4, 2021.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and new evidence is needed.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including breathing problems, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability. The decision also denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 10 percent prior to June 24, 2015. From June 24, 2015 to October 21, 2019, the rating remained at 10 percent. After October 21, 2019, a higher rating was not granted.