Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, back condition, and abdominal scars have been granted service connection. The Veteran is assigned a disability rating of 100% for his abdominal scars.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disability, increased initial ratings for frostbite of the left and right great toes, and TDIU due to issues with obtaining adequate medical opinions and development.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased evaluations have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his appeal.,The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection, effective dates, and evaluations.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to glioblastoma multiforme, finding that none of his service-connected disabilities directly caused or contributed substantially or materially to his death. The appeal is dismissed as there was no evidence linking the glioblastoma multiforme to his service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, but has determined that additional development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and back conditions, make it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claims can be adjudicated. The RO should request the Veteran's in-service clinical records, verify his periods of active duty for training or inactive duty for training, and obtain VA medical opinions to address whether his current disabilities are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including back, left hip, right hip, left hand and wrist, right hand and wrist, left foot, and right foot disabilities. The appeals are pending resolution.

The Board has remanded three issues: an increased rating for unspecified anxiety and depressive disorder, an increased rating for left ankle disability, and an increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with these other claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and arranging for examinations to assess the Veteran's functional impairment due to his service-connected disabilities. The TDIU claim will be reconsidered based on this new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease, levoscoliotic curvature, and status post lumbar surgery were incurred during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a right hip disability, but denied service connection for a right leg disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability, but has remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension and low back disability. The claims for radiculopathy of the lower extremities are also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his active duty service. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis, left hip femoroacetabular impingement syndrome, right hip disability manifested by pain, and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine as secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus with left foot plantar fasciitis.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for sleep apnea and lumbosacral strain because the appellant requested to withdraw these appeals.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral hearing loss disability as they are all covered by the March 2023 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disorders due to insufficient rationale in the April 2019 VA examination. The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted since April 20, 2018.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include low back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, stomach disability (IBS and acid reflux), and anemia.