Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for a lumbar spine disability, neuropathy/radiculopathy of upper and lower extremities due to unresolved issues with medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an adequate VA medical opinion and providing copies of the examiners' CVs.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and scoliosis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for back impairment has been reopened and granted. Service connection is also granted for neck, left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, and right knee impairments. The claims for these other conditions are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives regarding service connection for lumbar spine, right hip, and left hip disabilities. The Veteran's claims are being returned to the AOJ for additional examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, bowel incontinence, and bladder incontinence are inadequate. The claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 must be remanded to obtain new opinions from different providers.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spondylithiasis and spinal stenosis, as well as radiculopathy of the lower extremities, were denied. However, he was granted a TDIU effective January 28, 2015.

The Veteran's TDIU rating is currently effective since January 7, 2021. Prior to this date, he was rated as 30 percent disabled for bronchial asthma, 10 percent disabled for a thoracolumbar spine disorder, 10 percent disabled for tinnitus, and 10 percent disabled for a cervical spine disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an addendum medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's lower back and upper back disabilities are related to service, including pes planus.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are rated at 40 percent effective May 31, 2006 for the back condition and September 15, 2013 for the bilateral radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection of right hip, left hip, and lower back disabilities as secondary to his service-connected right inguinal hernia disability due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a thoracolumbar spine disorder and hypertension due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran contends that he developed these conditions during service, but there is evidence suggesting they may have existed prior to his entry into active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to address verification issues and the need for updated medical records. The Veteran's current address must be obtained, along with information on his medical providers who have treated him since April 2015.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claims can be adjudicated due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship of her disabilities to service, particularly her periods of National Guard duty and active duty for training.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions to address whether the Veteran's claimed conditions are related to his service, including during training activities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for allergies has been denied as there is no evidence of a link between the Veteran's current symptoms and his active-duty service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, unspecified gout, and unspecified arthritis have been remanded to obtain VA examinations and opinions on their etiology. The conditions are presumed to be related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp LeJeune during service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma has been remanded to obtain a VA examination and opinion on its etiology.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, left knee disability, left leg disability, right ankle disability, and right knee disability have been remanded to obtain VA examinations and opinions on their etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service records and a need for further examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine, right knee, left knee, and thoracolumbar spine disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran's service treatment records are also being sought.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is warranted. However, the VA examination report was found to be inadequate for adjudication purposes due to missing information on pain during active motion and weight-bearing.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates of service connection for right shoulder impingement with rotator cuff tendonitis, scars associated with the condition, and Crohn's disease are denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his right shoulder disability is remanded due to a need for new examination.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected scars is remanded due to the need for a retrospective opinion and clarification regarding the May 2017 VA examiner's report.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for Crohn's disease is remanded due to the need for a new examination.