Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for low back disability and TDIU due to inadequate examinations. Additional records are needed, including VA clinical records from November 2018 to present, and new examinations are required.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period prior to February 11, 2017 is denied as he was gainfully employed during this time.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and allergic rhinitis (claimed as sinusitis) are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The Veteran is also granted new and material evidence to reopen his claim for service connection for a low back disability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of all claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar spine DDD and an effective date prior to December 4, 2014. Additional development is required due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary for the following claims: whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for a sleep disability, entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability, entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral myositis and lumbar disc degeneration, entitlement to a compensable rating for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee tendonitis. The claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete service treatment records. The VA must conduct additional searches for these records and provide a response in writing if they are found to be unavailable.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip, ankle, and knee disorders due to insufficient medical evidence. The claims are being returned for further development including VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected low back strain, right ankle disabilities, and left ankle disabilities are worse than currently rated. The claims have been remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various joint disabilities have been remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions.,The Veteran has multiple unresolved claims related to his military service, including those involving his shoulders, back, hips, elbows, hands, wrists, and knees.

The Veteran's OSA was granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including weight gain from other service-connected conditions. His migraine headaches prior to November 18, 2016, were also granted a 50% rating based on very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is presumed to have been incurred in service. Service connection was denied for low back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral shoulder disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or the presumption provisions. Memory loss was not found to be related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for his lumbar spine and left foot disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, including his claims of service connection and related incidents. A new VA examination is needed.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and active service or any other compensable conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment since October 7, 2014.,The Veteran is currently entitled to a TDIU rating on a schedular basis effective September 8, 2015. However, his case was remanded for additional development regarding service connection for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 20 percent from August 5, 2012 to January 5, 2016. The Board has remanded the issue of a TDIU prior to January 4, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to inadequate reasons and bases in the March 2012 VA examination, as well as issues raised by the record regarding his employment.

The Veteran's attorney has withdrawn the claim for service connection for a low back condition, and as such, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and remanded the other issues due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's Meniere's syndrome with tinnitus is being evaluated without medication, and an addendum opinion on the severity of her cervical spine disability is needed.