Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability was denied. A TDIU rating was granted from August 30, 2016, and SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) was granted from December 4, 2020.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and outstanding records, including private treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The AOJ is instructed to obtain an additional opinion on the combined effects of the appellant's service-connected disabilities and refer the TDIU claim for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of his service-connected degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine with IVDS and TDIU are remanded due to inadequate examination findings and the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical records, particularly from 1990 and private treatment records. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability may be service-connected on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful employment for the appeal period prior to May 15, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude her from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the criteria for a TDIU are therefore denied. The initial rating for POTS is also denied.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and increased ratings have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of entitlement to higher ratings, service connection for erectile dysfunction and bowel impairment, and a TDIU.

The Board found that the overpayment period was reduced to August 1, 2012, to March 31, 2015, and the amount of the overpayment was reduced from $34,975.25 to $12,126.48. The claim for a waiver of recovery of this overpayment debt is denied.

The Veteran's appeal with respect to bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. Service connection for low back disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability is granted. A 70 percent rating is assigned for unspecified depressive disorder from March 24, 2017, to October 11, 2019.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine disorders, including status/post neck fusions and degenerative changes. The Veteran needs further medical examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete development. The Veteran needs to provide any outstanding treatment records, and a VA examiner will be requested to determine if the current ankle and shoulder disorders are related to service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of increased ratings for lumbar spine disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The case will be remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records, conduct orthopedic and neurological examinations, and readjudicate the claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's conditions are related to his exposure at Camp Lejeune, but a definitive link is needed.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted as direct service connection due to an in-service fall, and the Board found that his current symptoms are related to this incident.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including breathing disorder, back disorder, headaches, acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral knee disorder, heart disorder, painful joints, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, obesity, vision disorder, intestinal disorder, and sleep apnea. The Board also notes that no presumptive service connection is being considered for any of the conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and back condition due to service. Additional medical records are needed, including from NASA, private doctors, and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The decision also remanded several issues, including those related to the left knee, right ankle, left ankle, and aggravation of existing conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination to clarify whether the Veteran currently has a right knee, right hand, or lumbar spine disorder related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining retrospective medical opinions to estimate the amount of range of motion lost due to pain in both weightbearing and non-weight bearing positions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent and 10 percent for his service-connected left knee disability, as well as his claims for service connection for a left hip disability and lumbar spine disability secondary to his left knee disability. The remand is due to incomplete medical opinions regarding the impact of the Veteran's flare-ups on his range of motion.