Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU and do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for sleep apnea is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Service connection granted for major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks and chronic headaches. The Board finds in favor of the Veteran due to positive evidence outweighing negative evidence.,Right wrist disability service connection granted based on continuity of symptomatology since service and post-service treatment records supporting this claim.,Bilateral knee conditions and low back disability service connection remanded as additional evidence is needed.,Bilateral foot disability service connection granted based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to conflicting opinions in the VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the addition of new VA medical records and examinations. The case will be returned to the AOJ for review.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disability. The examiner was asked to consider the Veteran's lay statements and provide an updated opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations and previous remand instructions not being followed. The Veteran's bilateral foot, leg, hip, and low back disorders are to be evaluated again with new examinations.

The Board has granted a TDIU rating based on the Veteran's combination of service-connected disabilities from March 19, 2015 to July 19, 2018. The effective date for this award is March 19, 2015.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's back disability and address the July 2020 private examination findings of radiculopathy. The appeal will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including obtaining a full June 6, 2005 VA physical report and an addendum opinion to determine the nature and etiology of the lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's vertigo and left knee disability are currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The right knee disability is also rated at 10 percent prior to June 24, 2021, but granted an initial rating of 10 percent since that date. The lumbar spine disability remains rated at 10 percent regardless of the effective date.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disability is granted. The claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, secondary to the back disability, are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA treatment records, specifically a 2013 neck x-ray from El Centro Regional Medical Center. The Veteran needs to provide or attempt to obtain this record.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records. The Veteran was previously assigned a rating of 10 percent for his service-connected back condition, but now seeks higher ratings.

The appeal is dismissed for TDIU, and the lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy claims are remanded.

The Veteran's pension benefits were adjusted based on his income from Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits, and he is no longer entitled to a higher rate of nonservice-connected disability pension benefits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right hip disability, left knee disability, and lumbar spine disability due to incomplete medical records and insufficient examination reports. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it depends on the outcome of these other claims.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection and increased ratings for the Veteran's right knee, left knee, and back condition require additional medical examination to determine their etiology and severity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back and right knee conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset of symptoms.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to outstanding VA treatment records and non-VA community care treatment records.