Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's arteriovenous malformation is a congenital defect or disease, and if so, whether it was aggravated by service.

Your appeal has been dismissed because the Board did not provide a clear and specific error in their previous decision.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective February 12, 2019. His back disability rated at 40% since December 3, 2018 meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, right shoulder, and left hip disabilities due to insufficient examination reports.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his back disability is being remanded due to inadequate development and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities due to additional development being required.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,His low back scar was not found to meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for further action due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of his obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Veteran's tension headaches, contact dermatitis, tinea pedis, and lipoma have been shown to have originated during active service. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of any chronic low back condition in service or within one year after service. The medical opinion provided by VA also supported this conclusion.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine prior to July 19, 2021, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter is remanded due to incomplete medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and relationship of his claimed disabilities to active service.

The Veteran's appeal for left elbow tendonitis, left knee disorder, low back disorder, and right elbow bursitis has been resolved in his favor. The issue of service connection for a left elbow disorder is dismissed as the claim was granted previously.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirement for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, and his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied the remaining issues on appeal. Tinnitus is found to be related to active service, while no current disability or relationship to service is established for the other conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for further medical examinations.,The Veteran is also seeking a TDIU and SMC based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is being remanded for further examination and opinion as the current opinions do not address whether his service-connected disabilities aggravated his obesity, which in turn caused or aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, finding that it was aggravated by his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a rating of 70 percent, and he is granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.