Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's TDIU claim has been withdrawn. The Board has remanded the issues of increased ratings for lumbar spine, bilateral knee, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities.

The Board has found that additional development is needed regarding the remaining issues on appeal, including new VA examinations for the service-connected lumbar DDD with IVDS. The effective date of TDIU was changed to November 8, 2012.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, jaw disorder, and GI symptoms (IBS and GERD).,Service connection was not granted as the evidence did not support a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C and compensation pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to incomplete information in the record, including a lack of VA treatment records.

The Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities are granted as service connected, with the weight of evidence supporting that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to non-compliance with previous remand directives, specifically regarding obtaining a medical opinion on occupational and functional impairment caused by service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various disabilities, including anxiety and depression, neck disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, back disability, vertigo, sleeping disorder (including sleep apnea), and Meniere's syndrome. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization for VA to obtain records from University of Western States chiropractic school in Portland, Oregon.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and thus his TDIU claim is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and residuals of a right eye injury. The claims are now remanded for further development, including obtaining VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left and right shoulder, knee, back, and hip conditions, are remanded due to insufficient evidence or need for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee condition and a back condition due to incomplete medical opinions in the January 2017 VA examination report.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was previously rated at 20 percent prior to December 6, 2021 and increased to 40 percent thereafter. The claim for a higher rating remains denied.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 10 percent. A new examination is needed to determine the appropriate disability rating.,TDIU was remanded due to evidence suggesting unemployability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service or any in-service exposure. The Board also found insufficient evidence to support claims based on herbicide agent exposure and secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records development.

The Veteran's claims for higher special monthly compensation rates based on loss of use of her lower extremities are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and medical opinions regarding her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence and need for further examination of the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disorder and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 100 percent, and he meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU. However, there is no evidence that any single service-connected condition prevents him from maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the issue of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent disabling for the period prior to August 6, 2014, and in excess of 20 percent disabling for the period thereafter, for service-connected lumbar arthritis with strain. Additional development is needed including obtaining additional treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, finding the evidence not in balance against a finding that these conditions did not begin during or are related to active duty service. The Veteran's claims for TDIU were also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection due to inadequate examination reports, failure to address additional functional impairment during flare-ups, and lack of a detailed rationale regarding aggravation.