Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to deficiencies in the development of evidence and need for additional examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for obtaining the Veteran's service treatment records (STRs) and conducting a VA examination. The STRs were not obtained as directed in the January 2023 remand, despite previous attempts.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a low back disorder and granted it, finding that new evidence supports the Veteran's claims.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, finding that it was permanently aggravated during his active duty from March 2016 to April 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims for tinnitus, nightmare disorder, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, and low back disability due to incomplete procedures.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, low back condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition due to incomplete service treatment records. The Veteran's current diagnoses do not meet VA criteria for hearing loss as defined by VA regulations.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist and thoracolumbar spine disorders due to in-service injuries. The issues are being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination of the Veteran's coccydynia, post-operative condition during a flare-up.

The Board has ordered remand for additional examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease L5-S1 with history of herniated disc, status post-surgery and his bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The current VA examination reports are inadequate.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues related to service connection and rating claims, including voiding dysfunction, allergic rhinitis, external hemorrhoids, nephrolithiasis, thoracolumbar spine disability, left hamstring disability, right hamstring disability, right shoulder disability, sinusitis, left lower extremity sciatica, and right lower extremity sciatica. The appeals were dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal.

The Veteran's claims for an extension of convalescence period and a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease status post microdiscectomy and laminectomy of L3-L4 are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral spondylosis and degenerative disc disease was denied in March 2015, but reopened in December 2014. The claim was again denied in February 2018. In February 2019, the VA granted service connection with an effective date of November 13, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include back disability, left hip disability (secondary to knee), allergies, respiratory disability, and acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board denied service connection for cervical DDD, finding that the current condition is not etiologically related to service.,The Board also denied service connection for a painful joint disorder, as there was no separate disability found and the Veteran's symptoms were already compensated or separately appealed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a low back disability are granted. The claims for service connection for left hip condition and right hip condition are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for intervertebral disc disease of the lumbar spine and entitlement to TDIU due to procedural errors.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for peripheral radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities and service connection for lumbar disability have been dismissed.,A 40 percent evaluation has been granted for the service-connected lumbar disability, effective from February 25, 2009.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the Veteran's failure to appear for VA examinations. The examinations are scheduled to be rescheduled and new evidence is needed to determine the etiology of his lumbar spine disability, sciatica of the lower extremities, and knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability and left hip disability due to incomplete addendum opinions from VA examiners. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his current disabilities, which he contends are related to his military service or other service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to scheduling issues with a new examination. The appeals are inextricably intertwined with other disability rating and benefits determinations.