Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development, including a need for an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back disability. The claim will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain and his claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability are both remanded due to the need for additional examinations and updated medical records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a lower back disability, to include degenerative arthritis of the spine. The case is now remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection of back, right knee, and left knee conditions due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding parachute jumps during service.

The Board has denied service connection for chronic acid reflux and remanded the issues of service connection for a cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, tinnitus, and an initial compensable rating for chronic sinusitis.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected back disability was denied, and he was granted entitlement to a total disability rating due to individual unemployability.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the veteran's service connection claims for callosities of both feet, residuals of overriding toes on his right and left feet, and a back disability. The reasons include insufficient medical opinions regarding in-service aggravation or increase in severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability was granted with a 40 percent rating, effective as of the date of the decision. The claims for increased ratings for left hip strain were denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a psychiatric examination to determine if any diagnosed conditions are related to service. The claims for low back disability and left knee disability were denied as new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee and shoulder disabilities, as well as a respiratory disability. The claims are being returned to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's disability rating for arthritis of the lumbar spine with degenerative disc disease has been increased to 40 percent, effective August 6, 2010. The issue of a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability prior to February 14, 2018 remains on appeal.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have begun during service and granted service connection.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as the evidence does not support a finding that it began in or was related to service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, bilateral pes planus, degenerative arthritis with instability of the left knee, and degenerative arthritis with instability of the right knee are all granted service connection. The Veteran's tinnitus is also granted service connection.,However, chronic fatigue syndrome, right ear hearing loss, a right ankle disorder, and a left ankle disorder remain pending for further review.

The claim for service connection for lumbar strain has been reopened, and the Veteran's PTSD rating remains on appeal. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature of his back disability and its relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but further examination and opinion are needed to determine the nature and etiology of his hip, knee, ankle, and lumbar spine disorders.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his low back disability and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity have been dismissed as he has withdrawn them.

The Veteran requested to withdraw their appeals for the issues of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, right wrist condition, right shoulder condition, left knee condition, and low back condition. The Board has dismissed these appeals as per the Veteran's request.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient examination findings, lack of information regarding flare-ups, and need for additional medical records. The Veteran is also requested to provide private medical records related to his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative arthritis.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with its previous remand directives and the matter must be remanded once again due to the failure of VA to obtain VA examinations or medical opinions for the Veteran's lumbar spine, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability and associated bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities have rendered him unemployable prior to October 8, 2018. The case is being remanded for extra-schedular consideration of a TDIU.