Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various spine and nerve disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for back disabilities, including lumbar spine arthritis and degenerative disc disease, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for additional development due to inadequate reasons and bases in the July 2020 decision. The Veteran's service connection claims for various orthopedic disabilities, including right shoulder, right hand, low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities, as well as a psychiatric disability, are being returned for further review.

The Board has denied service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, right foot, and left foot disabilities as they are not shown to be directly related to active duty or secondary to a pre-existing condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU prior to October 3, 2014 are being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need to obtain private medical records.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to these conditions. The evidence supports a finding that these disabilities are related to active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a skin condition and a lumbar spine disability due to presumed exposure in Vietnam. The Veteran's pain is related to his reported back problem, but the exact cause of his diagnosed conditions remains unclear.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition, finding that there was no evidence of a link between his current disability and active service.

The Veteran's bilateral eye disability, lumbar spine disability, and tension headaches were not incurred or aggravated during service.,Service connection for PTSD was granted from March 1, 2015 to September 23, 2015 with a rating of 50%.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's service connection claim for right ear hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claims for a left hip disorder, left foot disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder are remanded.,The Veteran's claims for a back disorder and nerve damage of the legs (sciatica) are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations and increased ratings for his spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to incomplete development of records and need for an opinion regarding the severity of his service-connected conditions without considering the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since July 1, 2011. The Board granted TDIU effective that date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to inadequate examinations in the prior rating decision.

The Board has found the VA medical opinion inadequate for adjudicative purposes and has determined that remand is necessary to obtain service personnel records, complete treatment records from private providers, and provide an addendum medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a thoracolumbar spine examination and clarification regarding when his neurological abnormalities developed during the appeal period. The issues include increased ratings for back disability, right lower extremity sciatic nerve neuropathy, right lower extremity femoral nerve neuropathy, left lower extremity sciatic nerve neuropathy, and left lower extremity femoral nerve neuropathy.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and compensation were dismissed due to his death while the appeal was pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bipolar disorder with anxious distress and migraine headaches, prevent her from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU effective December 29, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was denied due to his failure to report for a VA examination.,The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left knee, right knee, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations to assess the current severity of his bilateral hearing loss, as well as the nature and etiology of his low back disorder, cervical spine disorder, lower extremity radiculopathy, and skin disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disability and service connection for his low back disability due to inadequate examinations used by the Board.