Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claims can be adjudicated due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship of her disabilities to service, particularly her periods of National Guard duty and active duty for training.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions to address whether the Veteran's claimed conditions are related to his service, including during training activities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for allergies has been denied as there is no evidence of a link between the Veteran's current symptoms and his active-duty service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, unspecified gout, and unspecified arthritis have been remanded to obtain VA examinations and opinions on their etiology. The conditions are presumed to be related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp LeJeune during service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma has been remanded to obtain a VA examination and opinion on its etiology.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, left knee disability, left leg disability, right ankle disability, and right knee disability have been remanded to obtain VA examinations and opinions on their etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service records and a need for further examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine, right knee, left knee, and thoracolumbar spine disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran's service treatment records are also being sought.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is warranted. However, the VA examination report was found to be inadequate for adjudication purposes due to missing information on pain during active motion and weight-bearing.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates of service connection for right shoulder impingement with rotator cuff tendonitis, scars associated with the condition, and Crohn's disease are denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his right shoulder disability is remanded due to a need for new examination.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected scars is remanded due to the need for a retrospective opinion and clarification regarding the May 2017 VA examiner's report.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for Crohn's disease is remanded due to the need for a new examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for evaluations of his lumbar degenerative disc disease and TDIU due to inadequate VA examinations in prior decisions. The Veteran needs a new examination to assess the severity of his service-connected condition, including consideration of flare-ups and functional loss.

The Veteran's back brace, used to treat her service-connected lumbar strain with degenerative changes, caused wear and tear on her clothing. Her application for a 2014 annual clothing allowance was timely submitted, and the Board granted the claim.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and obstructive sleep apnea due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The AOJ must review this additional evidence and provide an updated opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, and low back disabilities due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives. Additional private treatment records are needed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability. The case is remanded for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis and lumbar spine disability were denied increased ratings. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Veteran's left knee condition and low back condition, to include degenerative arthritis of the knees and lumbar spine respectively, are granted service connection. The right knee strain is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeals for reopening claims of service connection for residuals of concussion, major depressive disorder, and a lumbar spine disability are remanded due to procedural errors in their initial handling.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability. The cases of hypertension and thyroid disability are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded several claims, including those related to the Veteran's lower extremity radiculopathy and lumbar spine disability. The Veteran is also being asked to provide authorization for VA treatment records and to undergo a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disability, finding that there was no credible evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to her current right hip arthritis. The Board also found that the arthritis did not have its onset during service or within one year after separation.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder should be remanded to allow for proper procedural steps.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a cervical spine disability, right fifth finger injury, and sleep apnea has been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.