Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, including obtaining relevant medical records and conducting a retrospective examination. The claim will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and Adjustment Disorder, is granted as related to service.,Headaches are granted as a qualifying chronic disability due to Gulf War illness.,Service connection for lower back condition is remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for lumbar strain with IVDS, right femoral stress fracture, and left tibial stress fracture due to insufficient medical opinions regarding functional loss.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and bilateral hearing loss. Service connection was granted for a right hand ganglion cyst.,Service connection was not established for the remaining conditions: right hand disability other than ganglion cyst, left hand disability, and left knee disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, spondylolisthesis, and spondylolysis with degenerative joint disease claim is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his disability. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back condition, finding that it began during active service and is related to his in-service activities.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of tinnitus and suprapubic and infraumbilical scar have been withdrawn.,New evidence has been submitted to reopen claims for service connection for radiculopathy, lumbar disc disease, and cervical disc disease.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The effective date requests were also denied as they did not meet legal requirements.

Service connection has been granted for right and left knee disabilities. Service connection for a lumbar spine disability and diabetes mellitus, type II is remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations need to be redone due to incomplete testing and additional relevant medical evidence has been added to the file. The appeals for increased ratings for right ankle sprain, right knee strain, and lumbosacral strain are being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic low back strain. The cases of left knee condition and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's sleep apnea (OSA) is due to or aggravated by his service-connected fibromyalgia.,Service connection for OSA as secondary to fibromyalgia has been granted.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of his service-connected lumbar sprain and left knee strain, as well as granted a separate rating for left knee instability effective September 8, 2021. The appeal for an increased rating prior to October 2016 was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher COPD rating and service connection for a lumbar spine disability are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a right ankle disability and low back disability due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding a rating in excess of 10 percent for thoracic DDD, right knee disability, and service connection for left knee disability due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has withdrawn several claims and has remanded one issue for further development. The Veteran's external hemorrhoids claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's low back disorder, left foot disorder, and right foot disorder have been granted service connection. The Veteran's PFB has been remanded for further examination.