Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for shoulder, foot, and back disabilities due to inadequate opinions from VA examiners. The Veteran must provide more responsive opinions regarding the onset of these conditions during service or their relationship to active duty.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and review due to concerns about the qualifications of the examiners who conducted the October 2023 C&P examinations. The Veteran's representative requested additional information about the qualifications of these examiners, and a new examination is needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to his current condition and that the medical records do not support a direct link between his military service and his diagnosed back disability.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for low back disability and bilateral knee disability due to missing service treatment records.,The VA examiner did not provide a sufficient rationale based on the available evidence, including the Veteran's in-service duties.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right hip disorder and lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and evaluation of his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, lumbar spine, bilateral foot, hearing loss, gastritis, GERD, sleep apnea, headaches, vision impairment, cervicalgia, knee disabilities, hip strains, and ankle strains.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, degenerative disc and joint disease, diabetes mellitus, and brain tumor is remanded due to the need for further development regarding her exposure history.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including reopening of service connection for various conditions and entitlement to service connection. The decision also emphasizes the need to obtain any outstanding private treatment records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck and back disabilities, but has remanded them due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical and lumbar spine disorders due to incomplete records from his service period. A new examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of both the increased rating claim for back disability and the TDIU claim. The Veteran's service-connected back disability is being reviewed to determine if it results in functional equivalent of ankylosis, which would affect his increased rating claim.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for low back disorder and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's reports of in-service injury and ongoing symptoms are considered, as well as the delayed appearance of spinal abnormalities on imaging.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU) was dismissed because he did not provide the necessary evidence within the required timeframe.

The Veteran's service connection for lumbosacral spine arthritis and cervical spine arthritis was granted, but the claims of higher ratings were denied. Service connection for a disability manifested by chronic fatigue was also granted.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent prior to April 16, 2019 and 40 percent thereafter. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating for any portion of the period on appeal.,For the period from April 16, 2019 onwards, the Veteran's lumbar spine disability has not been manifested by ankylosis or its functional equivalent.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent prior to July 27, 2023. From July 27, 2023, he is granted separate ratings for left and right knee extension.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his low back disability was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 30 percent, which is currently assigned.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension on a direct basis, but the claims for lumbar spine disability and enlarged prostate are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar intervertebral disc disorder is rated at 40 percent, the highest available rating. The other issues related to hip strain are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various recurrent disabilities, including knee, foot, spine, and eye conditions. The decision also notes that active duty records are incomplete due to unverified periods with the Navy Reserve.