Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

Your appeal for a higher rating for your back condition has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The case will be closed without prejudice.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for updated treatment records.

An initial rating of 20 percent for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is granted effective April 22, 2003. An initial rating of 20 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted effective October 5, 2016.,A higher rating in excess of 20 percent for both conditions remains remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases for its denial, specifically regarding the credibility of the Veteran's statements and an insufficient VA examination. The matter is now back with the Board for further adjudication.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to outstanding service treatment records and the need for further medical examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine DDD and DJD, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a back disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a left great toe disability and low back disability due to insufficient development, including scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including back disability, IBS, CFS, fibromyalgia, tremors of the hands, white matter disease, and numbness of the head and face. Additional evidence was uploaded after the last adjudication in December 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's spine and gastrointestinal disabilities, as well as toxic exposure risk activities in Vietnam. The VA will obtain additional medical opinions addressing these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including IBS, anxiety disorder, and low back pain, render him unable to engage in substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of April 1, 2004 for the award of service connection for a lumbar spine disability is granted. The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 10 percent for left eye nevus and photophobia is remanded due to need for updated examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, thoracic back, left jaw numbness, and left upper extremity radiculopathy due to additional development of records and examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a right knee disability was denied, and his lumbar spine disability was granted a 20% rating effective June 18, 2012.

The Board has remanded the claims for TDIU and SMC due to outstanding private medical records that need to be obtained. The issues are inextricably intertwined.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, which is believed to have pre-dated his service. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine was denied, as the evidence did not show forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine at or below 30 degrees, nor favorable ankylosis. His bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy claims were also denied.

The Board has denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and remanded the issues of service connection for GERD and OSA. The case is now before the Board again.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD; sleep disorder; lumbar spine disability; right lower extremity disability; left lower extremity disability; skin disability; right shoulder disability; left shoulder disability; bilateral hearing loss; tinnitus; headaches; and dizziness. The Veteran's period of active service is not established as honorable.

The Board has determined that additional development is required before the claims for lumbosacral strain, cluster headaches, hepatitis B service connection, and TDIU can be decided. The Veteran's VA examinations were not conducted due to his failure to attend the scheduled appointments.