Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examinations, and a new examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's lumbar strain disability.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to additional development being necessary, including obtaining employment information from the Veteran's employers and reviewing his Community Care Program records. The case will be readjudicated after any further development.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claimed low back, hand, hip, and foot disabilities are not service-connected due to lack of credible in-service injury history. The esophageal cancer and foot neuropathy claims have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board has remanded several issues, including those related to bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as some of the disability evaluations.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the adequacy of the VA examination and the Veteran's claims regarding her service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is granted service connection. Service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, left hip disorder, and right knee disorder are denied. Service connection for prostate cancer residuals is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar strain with arthritis, right leg peripheral neuropathy, and left leg peripheral neuropathy due to issues related to service connection. The claims are being remanded because of a late filing of the Veteran's appeal form.

The Veteran's total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed as moot because he is already receiving a combined 100 percent schedular rating for multiple service-connected disabilities.

All claims for increased ratings are granted. Effective January 13, 2016, the Veteran is granted service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and a rating of 70 percent for TBI. Ratings of 30 percent are granted for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy with femoral nerve involvement effective November 29, 2021. The Veteran's PTSD is rated as 30 percent prior to May 30, 2023, and 50 percent from that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal regarding the timeliness of their Notice of Disagreement (NOD) for a December 11, 2015 rating decision. The NOD was untimely as it was filed more than one year after the December 16, 2015 mailing of the rating decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, including headaches, and low back disability due to inadequate opinions regarding the onset and relationship to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of increased ratings for right shoulder and back disabilities due to outdated examination reports. The Veteran will need to undergo more current examinations to determine the current severity of their service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is granted. His 10% rating for allergic rhinitis is restored, and his claims for other conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a dental condition (specifically bruxism) and a back disability have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his back disability is denied. The most probative evidence shows that the Veteran's back disability does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation based on limitation of motion or ankylosis.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is not service-connected and denied.,A rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder impingement syndrome, to include rotator cuff tear, is denied.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain/spine and intervertebral disc syndrome prior to March 22, 2023, is denied. From March 22, 2023, a rating in excess of 40 percent is also denied.,A rating of 40 percent for sciatic nerve radiculopathy, left lower extremity, and a rating of 40 percent for sciatic nerve radiculopathy, right lower extremity, are granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain addendum opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

Service connection for a left knee condition, erectile dysfunction (ED), and migraines has been denied.,The Veteran's lumbar spine and upper back conditions have been remanded for further review.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection for various conditions as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including those for right wrist laceration residuals, back disability, pseudofolliculitis barbe hyperpigmentation residuals, diabetes, sleep apnea, and a right hand injury. The decision also mentions that VA should attempt to obtain Social Security Administration records relevant to the Veteran's claim.