Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent from December 29, 2011. The Board also granted a TDIU effective from the same date.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including obtaining retrospective medical opinions to estimate range of motion and additional impairment due to pain at specific examination dates.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to non-compliance with previous instructions and a need for additional medical examination.

The Board has reopened several service connection claims but denied some, resulting in a mixed disposition. The Veteran's new evidence relates to the unestablished facts necessary for reopening these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and further development is needed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment during the period from September 22, 2009, to prior to December 16, 2017. Therefore, entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is granted for this period.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and denied service connection for traumatic brain injury residuals, sleep disorder, and seizures.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for her thoracolumbar osteoarthritis and lumbosacral strain, as well as service connection for her left knee disability, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of lumbar lower back, but remanded the claims for right shoulder condition and sleep apnea syndrome due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's acne, eczema, dermatitis, seborrheic keratosis, left shoulder strain and degenerative changes, and back disability manifested by pain are all granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is also granted as service-connected.

The Board has determined that the current VA examination opinions do not adequately address whether the Veteran's back disorder had its onset in service or is otherwise related to his military service, and if so, whether it was subject to a superimposed disease or injury during service. The case is therefore being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a failure by VA to respond to a request from his attorney for the qualifications of VA examiners who conducted examinations in March and April 2011. The Veteran is also requested to provide information for obtaining private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion. The current evidence does not establish that the condition is related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disability, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with lumbosacral strain, and tension headaches as secondary to cervical spine disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disability and left leg disability, including radiculopathy due to incomplete military records and lack of supporting evidence. The Veteran is asked to provide additional lay statements and private treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for a disability of the lumbar segment of the spine and left hip, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including a right knee disability, low back disability, gastrointestinal disability, psychiatric disability, and a disability characterized by internal bleeding. Additional medical evidence was added to the claims file but has not been considered yet.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's initial claim for a low back disability was denied in 1984 and again in 1984. He applied again in 2003, which was also denied. The effective date of service connection for his low back disability is set at July 11, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to March 13, 2015 and from March 13, 2015 to August 3, 2021.