Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the service connection for a back disability and the TDIU claim. The Veteran's lay statements, along with his service treatment records, will be considered in determining the nature and etiology of the claimed condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities were denied. The lumbar strain was rated as 20% prior to September 5, 2019, and the cervical strains were both rated as 10%. These ratings are not higher.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and medical opinions regarding his back disability, right knee disability, and right hip disability. The issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral spondylosis (back disability), service connection for a right knee disability as secondary to the back disability, and service connection for a right hip disability as secondary to the back disability are all remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, low back disabilities (including degenerative arthritis, IVDS, and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy), right knee DJD, and left knee DJD. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding kidney stones.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and TDIU claim, including obtaining treatment records and conducting a VA examination. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lower back condition and acquired psychiatric conditions due to incomplete compliance with prior remand directives. The AOJ is required to obtain additional medical records, including SSA records and private treatment records from Drs. H.J.C.M. and A.L.P., as well as San Juan VAMC records. An adequate opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lower back condition and acquired psychiatric conditions must be obtained.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and low back disabilities have been remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has dismissed all the issues on appeal due to the death of the Veteran before a final decision could be made.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and evaluation of the Veteran's back disability, including considering his service-connected residual arthritis.

The Board has remanded the case for further medical inquiry into the claims for higher staged ratings for the lumbar spine disability and an effective date prior to July 1, 2015 for TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome is granted, while the claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, hearing loss, and back disability are remanded.

The Board has dismissed the service connection claims for various conditions due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the claim can be adjudicated, and therefore, the case is being remanded for additional medical examination and evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy secondary to service-connected cervical spine DDD, and headaches.,Service connection is also granted for a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on need for aid and attendance, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), due to service-connected disabilities prior to January 22, 2019. The issues are being remanded for further development including obtaining additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations and consideration of his increased severity claims. The issues include ratings for chronic sinusitis, rhinitis, sleep apnea, lumbar strain and discogenic disease, lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee meniscectomy residuals with degenerative joint disease (DJD), left knee instability, and TDIU.

The Veteran's neck and low back disabilities are granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that there is at least a 50% likelihood that these conditions were caused by his military service.

The Veteran's neck disability did not result in ankylosis or intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) prior to April 19, 2017 despite pain and weakness during repeated use. The rating for the condition remains at 20 percent.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for his psychiatric disorder was increased to 70 percent, effective November 15, 2010.,The Veteran's initial disability ratings for his left and right wrist disabilities were both increased to 10 percent, effective November 15, 2010. The case is now REMANDED due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for an evaluation of the lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy, as well as a TDIU claim due to inadequate medical opinions from previous examinations. The Veteran's service-connected conditions are being reviewed with a focus on their severity prior to November 2019.