Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as secondary to service-connected bilateral hips disability, due to inadequate examination findings and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions obtained on remand are inadequate and requires further examination or opinion to address the Veteran's claimed disabilities, their onset during service, and any relationship to his service. The case is therefore being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy prior to September 4, 2019 and in excess of 10 percent thereafter was denied. The Veteran also received an award of TDIU effective March 5, 2015.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, and psychiatric disorder due to inadequate VA examinations from 2013. The Veteran's service records do not show any specific diagnoses related to these conditions during service, but he alleges they developed in service or are related to his military duties.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions in a previous VA examination, and further development is required.

The Veteran's SMC claim for regular aid and attendance is granted. The automobile allowance claim is denied due to the absence of permanent loss of use of one or both feet, severe burn injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ankylosis of knees or hips in his service-connected disabilities. The TDIU claim before July 17, 2002, is remanded for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD) as the evidence is at least evenly balanced and resolves in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and therefore a TDIU is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current disability and service or any other relevant factor.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hip disability and lumbosacral spine disability, finding that the Veteran does not have current disabilities related to active service or any incident of service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lower back disability and associated radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions arose during active service.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine disability, hypertension, and folliculitis. The cervical spine disability was not incurred in or related to service. Hypertension is not shown to be caused by service-connected conditions.,Folliculitis was not shown to have been present during service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as he does not meet the criteria for a schedular or extra-schedular TDIU rating due to his service-connected disabilities alone.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete service treatment records and personnel records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including high cholesterol, back problems, gout of the ankles, sinusitis, acid reflux, carpal tunnel syndrome of the wrists, and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and secondary service connection due to incomplete records, particularly those from his Reserve service. The claims will be returned for further development including obtaining missing Reserve service records and a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lower back and right hip conditions, finding that these conditions are secondary to his service-connected left knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for status post hysterectomy, low back disability, and migraine headaches due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine condition, thoracolumbar spine condition, and bilateral shoulder condition due to lack of evidence showing the conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's increased rating for thoracic strain with lumbar spondylosis is granted, as his disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria for a 40 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, anxiety and panic disorder, and a back disability due to service-connected right foot disability. The VA is required to obtain records from the Oakland Naval Hospital and the Temple VAMC, as well as a medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.