Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for dental, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and low back disabilities need further development to obtain missing service treatment records.

The Board has ordered remand for further development and examination in order to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine disability, and cervical spine disability. The issues are being remanded due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's lumbar strain with bulging disc was granted an initial disability rating of 40 percent, effective September 15, 2017. The VA determined that the symptoms more nearly approximated forward flexion of less than 30 degrees during flare-ups.

The Veteran is granted entitlement to an extraschedular TDIU from July 17, 2013, to July 31, 2018, and a schedular TDIU on and after August 1, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to obtain service treatment records and VA clinical documentation, as well as a VA examination for his left fifth finger fracture residuals.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine from November 20, 2007 to February 14, 2012 is granted. The claim for TDIU prior to February 15, 2012 and the claims for higher ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy prior to April 7, 2021 are denied.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection are denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.,New evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability, but further examination is needed.,A VA examination is required to determine if the Veteran has bilateral hearing loss or skin disabilities related to his military service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability and left knee disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.,A VA examination is required to determine if the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The rating for the lumbar spine disability was denied, as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to November 19, 2020, and after that date in excess of 40 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's current back condition is related to his in-service injury and is not due to post-service incidents.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back condition, left sacroiliac joint condition, and right sacroiliac joint condition. The VA examiners found no link between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and the Veteran's low back disability is being reviewed again for service connection.

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

The appeal is granted to reopen the claim for service connection of a low back condition. The earlier effective date for tinnitus remains denied as no new evidence was submitted within one year after service separation.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective from April 24, 2009 to February 11, 2013, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment during this period.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and need for additional development regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine DDD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as his claim of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The remand is due to inadequate medical opinions provided in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's right hip and low back disabilities are found to have had their onset in service, warranting service connection. However, the claim for a left hip disability is remanded as it may be secondary to his service-connected left ankle and/or left knee disabilities.,Service connection has been granted for right trigeminal neuropathy with an effective date of April 27, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran contends his current back conditions are related to an injury sustained during active duty, but VA examinations have not provided sufficient analysis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the current severity of his gastritis, somatic syndrome disorder with unspecified depressive disorder, lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee internal derangement (flexion), left knee lateral instability, and tinnitus disabilities. The Veteran also needs clarification on the nature of his claimed balance disability.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with the January 2023 remand directives and thus, another remand is warranted for further development.