Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, cervical spine disability, and hypertension due to the lack of available service treatment records. The Veteran is to be afforded VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent from December 22, 2017. The Board denied service connection for a right hip disability and bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence. The decision remains pending on these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for a left ankle disability and service connection for right knee and low back disabilities due to incomplete VA treatment records. The case will be returned to the Board after obtaining all relevant medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, low back condition, right ankle condition, and right hip condition as secondary to his service-connected right medial meniscus tear due to insufficient opinions regarding aggravation of these conditions by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability and hepatitis C have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, but the Board cannot award TDIU under § 4.16(b) in the first instance due to lack of schedular requirements. The case is REMANDED for an extraschedular determination as to whether he was entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes and has denied service connection for this condition. The remaining issues are remanded due to incomplete medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for a back disability and entitlement to TDIU prior to January 21, 2021. The appeal is inextricably intertwined with other matters including severance of service connection for a psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the October 2020 remand orders and a new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's back disability is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion from a previous VA examiner, and now requires an addendum medical examination to determine if the Veteran's low back disability is causally related to her service.

The Veteran's spine disability was granted a 50% rating from July 22, 2013 onwards. The initial period of August 27, 2007 to July 22, 2013 remains at 20%. The decision also remanded the issue of increased rating for polyradiculopathy.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling from August 6, 2006, to June 9, 2013, and from August 1, 2013, to July 21, 2015. The thoracolumbar spine disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling from August 6, 2006, to February 11, 2008, and from April 1, 2008, to August 25, 2015. These ratings are being remanded for further development.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is also being remanded as part of the spine issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, allergic rhinitis, and hypertension due to a lack of recent VA examinations. The Veteran is also being remanded for a TDIU claim as her service-connected disabilities have prevented her from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for the residuals of corneal ulcer with infiltrate, left eye has been reopened. The appeal is remanded for further evaluation and rating of his other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the issues of service connection for a back disorder, shoulder disorders, and headaches. The AOJ should obtain an advisory opinion from an independent medical expert to address the nature and etiology of any current back disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD from June 13, 2012 to July 11, 2014, and TDIU prior to September 1, 2014. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's low back disability was related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and broken teeth due to missing records, including dental records from the Navy Dental School, SSA disability benefits records, and updated VA treatment records.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's low back condition should be remanded for further examination and opinion due to insufficient reasoning in the previous VA examination.

The Veteran's DDD is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating. The appeal for increased ratings of right and left hip strains remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and right knee disability due to incomplete medical records and failure to consider all of the Veteran's contentions.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of higher initial ratings for vesicular tinea pedis, service connection for a back disability, right lower extremity neuropathy (claimed as secondary to low back disability), left lower extremity neuropathy (claimed as secondary to low back disability), and a headache disability. The Board has specifically requested additional VA examinations and opinions regarding the progression of the Veteran's skin condition, the etiology of his back disability and associated neuropathy in his lower extremities, and the cause or aggravation of his headache disability.