Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is etiologically related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's left knee disability and lumbar condition are granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee degenerative arthritis.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete medical records and questions regarding the Veteran's back disability between April 2003 and September 2011.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for his back, right knee, and left knee conditions. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service or secondary to his service-connected bilateral foot and hip conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions for the Veteran's left knee and low back disabilities. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous remand directives, and a new examination is required to determine the current severity of the Veteran's back disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, headache disability, and thoracolumbar spine disability due to delays in scheduling VA examinations. The Veteran's failure to report for these examinations is being addressed.

The Board has determined that additional evidence needs to be considered and the claims are being remanded for further review.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia and left testicle varicocele with voiding dysfunction are granted. The Veteran is assigned a 40% rating for the left testicle varicocele condition.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy has been granted initial ratings of 40 percent, effective from May 27, 2010 and January 5, 2013. The rating for the lumbar spine disability remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy in all four extremities, prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The Board granted TDIU on an accrued benefits basis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been granted under the PACT Act, but an effective date prior to August 10, 2022 is not established due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his thoracolumbar spine disability and related nerve radiculopathy issues.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability, neck disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. These conditions are deemed to have had their onset in service.

The Board has identified new evidence that was not previously considered and requires the AOJ to review this evidence before making a decision on your claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need to verify the Veteran's deployment to Kuwait. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional evidence, including National Guard records and Social Security Administration disability award information.

The Veteran's urinary incontinence is found to be secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and right lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that there is no evidence to support his claim and concluding that his current condition is not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and consideration of new evidence.,The Board is seeking clarification on the qualifications of the examiner who provided the August and September 2022 opinions, particularly regarding their experience in rheumatology.