Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete development and requests for additional evidence. The Veteran's cervical spine disability and psychiatric disorder are being reviewed again as secondary to bilateral pes planus.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of December 27, 2010 for the 20% rating assigned for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability. The issue of TDIU prior to November 6, 2019 remains on appeal as it affects the eligibility determination based on the effective date.

The Veteran's appeal is for ratings in excess of 20 percent from December 18, 2012, and in excess of 40 percent from August 5, 2021, for her lumbosacral spine disability. The Board has remanded the case due to further development being needed.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all listed conditions, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of PTSD and remanded the claims for service connection of back disability and generalized arthritis due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, right knee PFS, left knee PFS, right foot plantar fasciitis with heel spurs, and left foot plantar fasciitis with heel spurs have been granted. The Board has also remanded the Veteran's claims for neck disorder, headaches, and PTSD for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, blurred vision, itchy skin, headaches, nausea, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and spinal stenosis due to inadequate examination and opinions. The Veteran is entitled to a new VA examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran's low back and left ankle disabilities were not incurred in service, and the Board dismissed the appeals for these issues.

The Veteran's tension headaches were granted a 50% rating effective May 13, 2019. The other conditions and disabilities were not found to warrant compensable ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation until his retirement in December 2018 due to health issues and 'life in general'.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left hip disability and low back disability due to the inadequacy of previous medical opinions. The case will be remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for thoracolumbar spine disability and degenerative joint disease of the left knee are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The cases will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic tuberculosis (TB) was denied due to lack of a clinical diagnosis. New and material evidence has not been received since the last final denial.,Service connection for a back disability is reopened based on new evidence submitted by the Veteran, but the Board finds that there is no competent medical evidence linking the current disability to service or any other condition. The claim remains denied.,The effective date for service connection for bilateral hearing loss cannot be earlier than January 14, 2016, as the Veteran did not have a hearing loss disability for VA purposes prior to that date.,Further development is needed on the issues of right knee disability, left knee disability, sinus disability, and obstructive sleep apnea due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to service or any other condition.,The issue of skin cysts remains remanded as there is insufficient information regarding its onset in service.

The Board dismissed the appeal of all issues related to service connection for various conditions, as the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for a back disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claims for a separate rating for urinary incontinence as a neurological symptom of the service-connected low back disability and for TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination by a urologist.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to failure to comply with prior remand directives, specifically regarding a VA examination by an orthopedic specialist. The Veteran needs another VA examination for his low back condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability but has remanded the issues of service connection for left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional medical opinions to address whether the Veteran's lumbar spine and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities were incurred in service, including from motor vehicle accidents and lifting injuries. The claims are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further action.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding flare-ups and right knee instability.