Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board is remanding them for additional development to obtain medical opinions and verify stressors.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the failure to schedule a VA examination, potential unemployability, and worsening of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the service connection claims for neck, back, right shoulder, left leg skin, testicular skin, and bilateral ear disorders due to outstanding inpatient clinical treatment records from Tripler Army Medical Center.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities, and the Board is dismissing the appeal due to lack of pending issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence, including missing service treatment records. The Veteran is requested to provide additional medical information and release forms.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, finding that it began in and has continued since active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and left knee disorder, both secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, have been granted.,Service connection for the Veteran's sleep disorder (OSA), which is not directly related to his service or service-connected disabilities, has been denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The Veteran is also granted to reopen her claim of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral ankle disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his service-connected lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies, and their impact on employment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chest, right hip, and low back disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in previous decisions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The evidence shows that these conditions are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection, as is a 100% rating for his service-connected back disability from May 7, 2007 to April 5, 2019. He also receives TDIU and aid and attendance special monthly compensation during this period.

The Board has not granted service connection for tinnitus, left knee disability, right arm disability, or lumbosacral spine disability. The Veteran's claim for a lumbosacral spine disability is remanded to obtain an examination and determine the nature and etiology of this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied as the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining medical opinions and records.

The Board denied reopening of service connection for a back disorder, denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, right hip disorder, and right leg disorder. The Veteran did not have current disabilities for these conditions.

The Veteran's low back strain disability is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity and manifestations of his condition.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and low back disability, finding that the Veteran's reported symptoms during service are consistent with his current condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar spine disability and Kienbock's disease of the right wrist and hand due to insufficient evidence in the record.