Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records. The issues include evaluating his lumbar spondylosis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease (claimed as an upper back condition) was dismissed because the Veteran withdrew his claim before a decision was made.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The Board found the VA examinations inadequate for the left knee, back, right shoulder, and nose disabilities, and thus remanded these claims.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 40 percent for postoperative herniated lumbosacral discs is being remanded due to the need for a new examination that adequately addresses functional limitations and flare-ups.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial compensable ratings for his depressive disorder, back disability, and headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with these rating claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including traumatic brain injury residuals, lumbosacral spine intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative joint disease, PTSD, and other conditions, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has also determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities have been dismissed. Effective May 24, 2010, the Veteran is granted a TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability. The matter is now pending for a new VA examination and/or opinion that accurately accounts for the Veteran's employment and medical history.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and low back disability, finding that these conditions are proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis respectively.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including lower back pain, ankle injuries, flat feet, and complex regional pain syndrome. The AOJ needs to obtain specific information about the Veteran's periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA) during his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a musculoskeletal examination with specific range of motion assessments.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability and headaches due to incomplete and inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The case is being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claims for service connection for bilateral foot fungus, sleepiness (sleep apnea), low back condition, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral or cervical strain (cervicalgia) has been denied. The claims for increased ratings and service connection for left shoulder, right thigh, and left costochondritis disabilities have been remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to deficiencies in obtaining addendum medical opinions and conducting necessary examinations.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a back disability, and bilateral hand numbness due to unresolved development needs.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral foot disorder, and low back disorder due to procedural errors. The TDIU claim is denied as it was assigned effective November 23, 2020.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations related to these claims are inadequate and remanded for further development. The Veteran's right knee, low back, and headache disabilities are all being reviewed due to their potential connection to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's back disability and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy were found to not meet the criteria for higher evaluations, with the highest rating of 20 percent being granted for his thoracolumbar spine condition.