Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for upper and lower back disabilities due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding the Veteran's lower back disorder. A new VA examination will be scheduled to determine if the condition is related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions, specifically back condition, vertigo, insomnia, and depression.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, varicose veins, left knee disability, right knee disability, low back disability, sciatica, left, and sciatica, right due to procedural issues.

The Board has determined that additional evidence was submitted and requires further review by the AOJ before a final decision can be made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and low back disorder have been granted. The diagnoses are related to active service.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent since April 7, 2021. A separate compensable rating of 10 percent for left knee instability effective from December 18, 2019 has also been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for thoracolumbar spine disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that his current condition is not secondary to or caused by his service-connected right knee meniscal tear. The Board also found no evidence of obesity being due to his service-connected knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete etiology opinions and failure to substantively comply with previous directives.,Specifically, the Board found that the VA examiners' opinions were inadequate as they did not address the Veteran's contentions regarding his MOS as an aircraft mechanic and the onset of symptoms during work activities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient service treatment records and a need for an examination to determine if the Veteran's current low back disability is related to his active service.

The Board has decided to remand the issue of increasing the initial disability rating for the low back disability due to outstanding non-VA treatment records and a need for updated VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of any current back disorder, including spondylolisthesis and spondylolysis.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding service connection and increased ratings for various conditions, including shin splints and radiculopathy of the lower extremities and lumbosacral strain. The appellant requested withdrawal of all issues.

The Veteran's reduced disability ratings for thoracolumbar and cervical spine disabilities were restored, effective December 1, 2018. The appeal is granted as the reduction was improper.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and a cervical spine disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.,There is no evidence of chronicity during or after service, and the VA examiner opined that the current diagnoses are more likely due to post-service events.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and left knee retropatellar pain syndrome with patella femoral tendonitis are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a more comprehensive VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, and diabetes mellitus due to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis may also be related to his left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and remanded the claims for a low back disability. The case is now pending with instructions to obtain medical opinions and SSA records.