Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for a final decision on his service connection claims before proceeding with the TDIU determination.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for back, left knee, and right great toe disabilities as well as a TDIU due to additional evidence added to the claims file since the July 2020 supplemental statement of the case. The Veteran is also required to provide a TDIU Claim Form.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection and initial ratings for left thigh nerve disorder, low back disorder, and neck disorder due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal prior to the decision.

The Veteran's back disability is granted service connection. The Veteran's circulatory system conditions are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, contact dermatitis, low back disability, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and left carpal tunnel syndrome was granted.,Service connection for tinnitus was granted on a presumptive basis as a chronic disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is likely related to his military service, specifically an in-service fall during basketball game. After considering all evidence and resolving doubts in favor of the Veteran, the Board granted service connection for the lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are related to in-service noise exposure. His back disability is linked to his active service, as evidenced by a history of injuries sustained during service.,The Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities were aggravated by his service-connected right total knee replacement and/or back disability.

Service connection for bilateral pes planus, low back condition, and bilateral hip condition has been denied.,The claim for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis is pending and will be remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for several issues, including initial compensable rating for atopic dermatitis and service connection for PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder and moderate alcohol use disorder, sleep disturbances, chronic headaches, keratitis/corneal ulcer, chronic bronchitis, sinusitis, enlarged cervical right side submandibular lymph node, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and muscle and joint pain (unspecified).

The Board has dismissed the appeal as it was improperly docketed under the legacy appeals system due to the Veteran's valid opt-in to the AMA system via a RAMP election form. The case is now addressed in a separate decision under the AMA.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The lumbar spine disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral hearing loss claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for secondary service connection for a back disability and right knee disability, both related to his service-connected left knee disability. The claim for secondary service connection of a left shoulder disability is remanded.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to April 4, 2019 due to his service-connected lumbar disability. He also receives special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate as he has other service-connected disabilities rated at least 60 percent combined with a single 100% disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete service medical records. The Veteran's active duty and Army Reserve service are acknowledged, but further efforts must be made to obtain his complete service medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims for erectile dysfunction, back condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, hypertension, bladder incontinence, and headaches due to insufficient rationale provided by the VA examiner.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address all theories of entitlement to service connection for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, including direct service connection and aggravation by service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back condition. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a back condition, and additional development is needed.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbosacral IVDS was denied, but she received a separate 10% rating for left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy associated with IVDS effective from May 17, 2017.

The Board has remanded the claims for unspecified arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and heart disability due to incomplete documentation of all qualifying periods of service.

The Veteran's low back disability was granted an initial rating of 10 percent from October 29, 2014 to January 3, 2018. Service connection for sleep apnea and left hip disability were denied. The case is remanded for further evaluation.