Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings for psoriasis, dry eye syndrome, and scars of the abdomen and lumbar spine due to a lack of medical opinions regarding the etiology of his heart disability. The Veteran is also requested to provide VA Form 21-4142s for any private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a seizure disorder and residuals of a TBI have been denied.,The Board has found that the evidence does not show to the degree required the first Hickson element, a current disability, with respect to the Veteran's alleged seizure disorder and residuals of a TBI.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome and remanded for additional development regarding his back disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a combined-effects examination.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's neck disability, effective from July 31, 2018. The decision is based on evidence showing that the Veteran's forward flexion of the cervical spine was limited to 30 degrees and does not support findings of less than 15 degrees or ankylosis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition due to inadequate medical opinion and need for further development.

The Board has determined that the case requires further development, specifically for a VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's back disorder is related to service or caused by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's initial rating for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine was denied, and his claims for bilateral knee disabilities were remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, right hip, and left hip disabilities have been granted.,However, the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, chondromalacia of the right knee, chondromalacia of the left knee patella (status post lateral release), and surgical scars of the left knee (status post arthroscopy) are being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new examinations that comply with prior Board instructions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic lumbar spine disability is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete service records and inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's complete military personnel file, separation examination reports, and any outstanding medical records are required. Further evaluations by VA are needed to address the etiology of his current disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the severity of these conditions.,The Veteran seeks higher disability ratings for his lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with chronic lumbar strain, lower back spasm, and IVDS. The Board has requested an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to estimate the Veteran's range of motion during repeated use over time and during flare-ups.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and low back disability. The issues have been remanded due to insufficient evidence or procedural errors.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in findings and lack of information for rating neurological disability, as well as the need for VA treatment records and Social Security Administration records. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been remanded due to procedural issues. A SOC must be issued and the Veteran must either perfect his appeal or opt into the AMA.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding service connection for arthritis of multiple joints, including bilateral hips, knees, hands, thumbs, ankles, lumbar spine, and cervical spine.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, and back disabilities due to a lack of notification regarding scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's skin disability is currently rated at 60 percent, effective October 11, 2007. The Board has denied an evaluation in excess of this rating.