Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for COPD as it had already been granted. The Veteran was granted entitlement to TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability due to the lack of a VA examination and the need to determine if his current back condition is related to his active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left elbow, hip, shoulder, lumbar spine, bilateral hand, right hip, and right shoulder conditions, all of which are deemed to be direct service-connected rather than presumptively related due to Gulf War exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for higher evaluations for his cervical and thoracolumbar spine conditions has been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the severity of his spinal conditions, particularly during flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in medical opinions and a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, including degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, is being reviewed for service connection as secondary to his service-connected cervical spine degenerative arthritis.

Your service connection claims for low back disorder and sleep apnea have been granted, with a rating of 50% for sleep apnea effective April 7, 2021. The appeal is dismissed as there are no remaining issues to be decided.

The Veteran's claim for PCAFC benefits was remanded due to inadequate notice and the need for clarification of which criteria were unmet. The Board found that his combined rating is more than 70 percent, but the decisions did not clearly indicate which requirements were met or unmet.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination to address the nature and etiology of the appellant's ED, low back disability, bilateral lower extremity TTS, and PTSD. The claims are also being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of the service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate August 2014 VA examination, which did not address service treatment records and Veteran's lay statements. The case is now pending for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back condition and tinnitus due to outstanding private treatment records and U.S. Postal Service duty limitations.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for a psychiatric disorder due to lack of sufficient evidence and need for further development.

The Veteran's back disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.,Service connection for dysarthria (speech difficulty) granted as it is proximately due to his service-connected TBI.

The Veteran's lower back disorder and related radiculopathy have been granted a 20% disability rating, effective July 24, 2014. The TDIU was also granted as of January 5, 2022.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to September 30, 2020, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's low back disability and his military service, particularly the November 1993 injury. The VA needs to obtain a new opinion addressing the relevant evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen her claims for service connection for low back pain, pes planus, and hammer toes. Service connection is now established for these conditions.,Secondary service connection was granted for a low back disability related to service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disorder and osteoarthritis of multiple joints due to inadequate medical opinions in previous VA examinations. The AOJ is instructed to obtain new VA medical opinions that consider the Veteran's service, lay statements, and symptoms during service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for chronic headaches and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed. The appeals for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a left wrist disability are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status prior to October 10, 2014, is denied as he does not meet the threshold requirements for SMC housebound benefits.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed psychiatric, back, jaw, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities.