Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The appeals for service connection and new evidence were dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for asthma, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a back disability due to incomplete STRs and inadequate VA examinations. The claims are also remanded for further development regarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his low back disability is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error and the need for a new examination.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar back, right knee, and left knee disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and to obtain updated VA treatment records. The issues include seeking higher ratings for his lumbar spine and left lower extremity conditions, as well as a TDIU claim.

The Veteran's diabetes is granted due to herbicide exposure. The claims for service connection of left ankle, peripheral neuropathy (upper and lower extremities), back disability, right shoulder, left shoulder, right ankle, right knee, and left knee disabilities are all granted.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed disabilities of the cervical spine, left and right shoulders, and knees as secondary to his service-connected foot and ankle disabilities due to lack of a causal relationship.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a lower back disability and depression, as well as secondary service connection for depression related to a lower back disability.,New evidence received since previous decisions raises reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's low back disability has worsened, and a new examination is needed to assess the current severity of his service-connected condition. Additionally, there are conflicting reports regarding ankylosis, which requires clarification.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and clarification of the medical opinion from September 2020.

The Board has found that remand is required for the Veteran's PTSD and lumbar spine sprain claims due to lack of recent VA treatment records and inadequate examinations. The Veteran will need to provide authorization for private medical records, and he will be scheduled for new VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions regarding the aggravation of the Veteran's disabilities by his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, but the issues of entitlement to service connection for various disabilities have been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions addressing potential in-service causation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and proceedings, including obtaining a retrospective medical opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability during specific time periods.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining updated medical records and providing VA examinations to address the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her low back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as service connection for a bilateral hip disability.

The Board has ordered remand for additional examinations to address the Veteran's left shoulder, right hip, and lumbar spine disabilities. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 50 percent, costochondritis with thoracolumbar lumbar strain at 40 percent, cervical spine degenerative disc disease at 30 percent, left upper extremity radiculopathy at 20 percent, and migraines at 10 percent. All other claims are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right leg disability, an increased evaluation for left knee strain with degenerative disc disease and limitation of flexion, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The issues are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's applications to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for back, right knee, and left knee disorders. The cases are now remanded for further appellate review.