Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to additional VA records being added to the file, and the Veteran did not waive AOJ review. The issue will be returned for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and a back disability, finding no evidence of such conditions during active duty training (ACDUTRA) or any link to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracic spine degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome, bilateral laminectomy residuals, degenerative arthritis, and lumbosacral strain. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service parachute jumps which are considered to have caused these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to service. The case will be returned for further development and readjudication.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a back disability due to new evidence received by the Veteran's representative regarding the qualifications of a VA examiner who examined him. The RO must provide this information to the Veteran and his attorney.

PTSD rating increased to 70% effective March 13, 2019.,TDIU granted with an effective date of August 26, 2020.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for left shoulder, right shoulder, lumbar spine, left hip, right hip, and knee disabilities due to additional evidence being associated with the claims file.

The Board has denied service connection for all claimed disabilities, including low back disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining updated VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of the appellant's back condition. The TDIU issue is also being referred for extra-schedular consideration.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease was denied, but his request to reopen the claim was granted. Service connection for benign prostate hypertrophy and an acquired psychiatric disability (depression and anxiety) secondary to service-connected neck and right arm disabilities were both granted. The claim for hypertension is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remands and missing medical records. The Veteran's representative requested additional VA treatment records, including an MRI from 2006, and a retrospective opinion addressing guarding and spinal contour.

The Veteran's low back disability is related to his service, specifically the incident when he tripped over a curb in service. The VA examiner found that the condition is not likely due to or caused by his military service.,The Veteran's hepatic steatosis and portal splenic vein and mesenteric vein thrombosis are related to his service at Camp Lejeune, where he was exposed to contaminated water. The VA examiner noted that there were no medical notes for treatment of liver symptoms during or shortly after service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions and requests for additional development, including obtaining adequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disability and TBI.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right eye condition, hemorrhoids, lumbar strain, and right lower extremity sciatica have been granted.,An earlier effective date of October 28, 2016, has been granted for the awards of compensable evaluations for bilateral plantar fasciitis and a right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service treatment records are incomplete and have not been obtained. The case is being remanded to obtain these records, as well as any relevant personnel records from his National Guard service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for updated VA and private treatment records, as well as an examination of his lumbosacral strain. Additionally, a SOC must be issued regarding service connection for a cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD did not preclude him from having a full-time job prior to May 29, 2010. Therefore, his claim for TDIU prior to that date was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the severity and manifestations of the Veteran's service-connected sacral coccyx disability, including lumbosacral strain and IVDS, from February 2, 2016 to July 7, 2020. The examiner is required to provide a retrospective opinion estimating any additional degrees of limited motion caused by functional loss during flare-ups or with repeated use over time.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for additional information and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's back, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee, and left hip disabilities. The VA will obtain more detailed retrospective medical opinions on the severity of these conditions during a specific period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 31, 2018.