Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his migraine headaches, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and determining whether he meets the schedular criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine conditions due to insufficient evidence in the current examination opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his adjustment disorder with depressed mood, lumbosacral spondylosis, and various knee and foot conditions, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim.

The Veteran is granted a higher 40 percent rating for his low back disability, effective as of December 20, 2019. His hypertension and knee disabilities continue to be denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient development and lack of adequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's conditions. The claims will be reviewed again after obtaining additional information and opinions from VA examiners.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder rotator cuff tear and a low back disability. The appeal is dismissed for the remaining issues.

The Board has granted service connection for back disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The Veteran's current disabilities are rated at the maximum available rating of 100%.,For the scars secondary to left ankle degenerative arthritis, the claim is denied as there is no evidence that they are painful or unstable.

The Board denied an increased rating for the thoracolumbar spine disability and granted a TDIU effective October 1, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were partially granted, with some conditions receiving a higher evaluation and others remaining at the current level. The decision also noted that further examination or remand was needed for TDIU.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for low back disability, bilateral sensitive feet, sleep apnea, hypertension, right knee disability, and left knee disability. These issues are now remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions that did not consider the Veteran's reported symptoms and history.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back, right leg, left leg, neck, right arm, and left arm disorders. The case is remanded for further development regarding his right shoulder disorder and head disorder (to include headaches).,Service connection was established for all claimed conditions except for the Veteran's right shoulder disorder and head disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease and spondylosis of the cervical spine, headaches, not otherwise specified, and residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to incomplete treatment records and the need for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in December 2019 were inadequate to decide the service connection claims for lumbar spine disorder and obstructive sleep apnea. The claims are being remanded for additional VA addendum opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to determine if the Veteran's cervical spine, back, and asthma disabilities are related to his service-connected bilateral knee and/or bilateral foot disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain, degenerative joint disease and intervertebral disc syndrome was denied. The Board found that the disability did not meet criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine or the Formula for Rating IVDS Based on Incapacitating Episodes.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions have been reopened, and the Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen his previously denied claims. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate examination in determining whether the Veteran's low back disorder is related to service. A new VA examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as a low back disability. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for additional development including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal, as requested by both herself and her representative.