Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus has been dismissed. The Board has also remanded cases involving his vertigo and/or Meniere's disease, low back disability, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of medical records. The right knee, thyroid, thoracolumbar strain, right foot, left knee, digestive problems, and psychiatric disorder issues are all subject to further review.

The Board has remanded the increased rating claims for further evidentiary development, including obtaining VA and private medical records. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claims for an increased disability rating for his lumbosacral strain with levoscoliosis and dextroscoliosis of the thoracic spine, as well as his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, are being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a new examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is at least as likely as not related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied service connection for a lower middle back disability, bilateral pes planus, and bilateral hallux valgus as there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, excluding sarcoidosis, have rendered him unable to perform daily activities without assistance. He is granted SMC(l) based on aid and attendance from August 2, 2005, to August 16, 2010, as well as SMC(o) and SMC(r)(1).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for low back disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication, including a new VA examination to assess the Veteran's low back disability and left clavicle fracture.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as his representative withdrew the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased evaluation of his service-connected lumbosacral strain disability, and the Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, hip, wrist, hand, leg, shoulder, spine, and hearing loss disabilities due to incomplete information in the record. The Veteran is required to provide authorization for VA to obtain his private treatment records and undergo examinations to determine if any of these conditions are related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his combat injury during active duty.

The Board has granted a 40 percent evaluation for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability from November 30, 2017. The issues of increased evaluations for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain new VA examinations for his back, femur, and knee disabilities due to the inconsistency in the previous examination findings.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hip condition and low back disability due to their secondary nature to service-connected right and left knee disabilities. The VA will obtain additional medical opinions to clarify whether these conditions are caused or aggravated by the service-connected knees.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not considered a disability for VA purposes.,For the period prior to March 7, 2022, his back disability did not meet criteria for a higher rating. For the period from March 7, 2022 onward, there was no evidence of forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient review of relevant records, including a June 2011 VA X-ray report and the Veteran's claimed May 2011 service in the Army Reserve. The case needs further development to confirm the period of service and obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining his VR&E file and scheduling him for a VA examination to assess the severity of his lumbar strain with IVDS. The effective dates for certain awards are also being remanded.