Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and pain medications, as well as an addendum opinion from VA's Director of Compensation and Pension Service addressing the Veteran's work history and education.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for the period prior to December 9, 2013 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and joint pain due to unresolved etiological questions. Further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's conditions are related to his active service, including physical demands as a Marine.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for mental disorder was dismissed because a full grant of benefits had been granted in September 2020. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for back and low back conditions due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shin splints, as well as his initial evaluations for obstructive sleep apnea and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine have all been denied.

The Board has decided to remand several of the Veteran's claims due to new evidence being added to his file. He is asked to submit any additional medical records and will have another chance for a full review by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examinations for rating purposes and a need for retrospective opinions on the severity of the Veteran's lumbar disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his lumbar spine strain and radiculopathy disabilities are remanded due to the need for new VA examinations and the need to obtain outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, effective January 15, 2013.,Radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities was granted a 40 percent rating since January 15, 2013.

The Board has found that additional evidence has been submitted and a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) must be issued to consider this new evidence. The claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and left ankle disability are being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or service connection.,Specifically, the Veteran's lumbar spine condition was rated at 20 percent, which is the minimum compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 5243 (pertaining to IVDS). Her right lower extremity radiculopathy was also rated at 20 percent. The Board denied service connection for hypothyroidism and hypoglycemia.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches, lumbar spine disability, back scar, and cervical spine disability prior to October 23, 2018. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran is granted a rating of 50 percent for his lumbar spine disorder from July 27, 2005 to June 19, 2014 and a 60 percent rating thereafter. He also receives TDIU during this period and SMC on the basis of being housebound.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the diagnosed conditions. The Veteran's schizophrenia is presumed preexisting, and further examination is needed to determine if it was aggravated by service or natural progression.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's cervical spine disability, including degenerative disc disease, is related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability and remanded for further development.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,The Veteran's current low back condition, neck condition, right shoulder condition, and gastrointestinal disorder are all remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's cervical spine, right and left upper extremity radiculopathy, lumbar spine arthritis, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and left hip disability have been granted increased ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background, thus denying the claim for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, specifically related to flare-ups and their impact on range of motion. The claim will be returned for further examination.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU prior to March 3, 2018. The Board has also remanded the issue of entitlement to a TDIU from March 3, 2018 for referral to VA's Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.