Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and TDIU are being remanded due to new evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a low back disorder and left knee disorder, including for additional development such as VA examinations. The evaluation for his service-connected left knee disorder remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss, status post excision of cyst of left and right jaw, and lumbar spine disorder due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of a lumbosacral/cervical strain, and the Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory condition, to include asthma, and a low back disorder due to missing VA examinations. New examinations are required.

The Board has determined that new VA examinations are needed for the Veteran's shoulder and back disabilities due to the passage of time since the last VA examination. The earlier effective date claims are also remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spondylosis, right knee disability, left knee disability, frostbite of the right foot and toes, and frostbite of the left foot and toes due to insufficient evidence regarding his periods of active duty service.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and cervical spine disability has been reopened due to the submission of new medical evidence. The claims are now remanded for further development.,The Veteran's claims for right shoulder, right hand, fibromyalgia, asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, costochondritis (chest pain), lumbar spine disability, and cervical spine disability have all been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, but the cases of low back disability and intestinal disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased ratings and TDIU prior to the specified dates. The Board dismissed these appeals as per the Veteran's request.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a chronic lumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, and respiratory disability due to incomplete records and the need for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions and a need for further development, including obtaining an examination by an Orthopedic Physician.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for earlier effective dates of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, tinnitus, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, right shoulder, and left knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the record. The claims are also remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for COPD, HTN, right shoulder strain, lower back disorder, and left lower extremity nerve damage due to potential toxic exposure during service. The Veteran is presumed to have participated in a TERA.

The Board has decided to remand the cases regarding the reduction in ratings for left foot pes planus and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, as there are missing VA treatment records from October 2017 to April 2018 and August 2018 to December 2018 that need to be obtained.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to diabetes, and low back disability secondary to a service-connected neck disability.,The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA medical opinion and a need for additional evidence. The Veteran's back disability is being reviewed again, including considering his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities as a potential cause.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis is dismissed as the RO granted service connection in a December 2021 rating decision.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and left knee strain are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the initial rating of lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome prior to September 11, 2023, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter.