Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for upper back and right ankle disabilities. The case is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, left knee, right knee, left foot, and back conditions due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's knee and spine conditions are remanded for further examination. His respiratory, heart, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy disabilities are also remanded due to the similar nature of the issues.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, finding that it was incurred in service and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the service connection for a back disability. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed with additional evidence and expert opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinions regarding her service connection, compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, and temporary total rating.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals on all issues due to his withdrawal of the appeal prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for low back and bilateral hip disabilities due to their potential secondary nature to service-connected knee disabilities. The Veteran's altered gait and reported flare-ups indicate a need for medical opinions regarding causation and aggravation.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and a need for clarification of the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current low back disorder. The claim will be re-adjudicated after obtaining additional evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral foot condition. The other issues on appeal are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran died from COPD, which is not related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete or missing service treatment records, and for additional development of his disabilities. The issues include DDD (back pain), scoliosis, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, deviated nasal septum, traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of a lower back condition.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for degenerative disease with arthritis of the thoracic spine and lumbosacral strain has been dismissed due to the Veteran and his representative withdrawing their appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for an anxiety disorder due to the lack of evidence linking it to in-service stressors. The low back disability issue is remanded as VA did not provide a medical opinion addressing its relationship to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's lumbosacral strain, including obtaining VA and SSA records and conducting a new examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU due to inadequate VA examinations, conflicting medical opinions, and other procedural issues. The Veteran is required to provide additional evidence from private providers and undergo further examination.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inconsistencies in previous opinions and the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 1, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disorder. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his current diagnosed conditions, but the VA examiner did not address the Veteran's lay statements and self-reported symptoms.