Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's back and right heel conditions are being remanded for further review due to the submission of new VA treatment records and examinations. The claims will be reconsidered with all relevant evidence taken into account.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of increased PTSD rating, service connection for lumbar strain, and right shoulder disability due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a cervical spine disability was granted. The TDIU claim was also granted, and the issues related to left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, left ankle disability, left foot disability, and right foot disability were remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss, bilateral shoulder disabilities, lumbar spine disability, neck disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will need to undergo additional medical examinations and provide any necessary authorization for private records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including chronic ear pain, sleep apnea, a rash, right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, neck condition, back condition, bilateral knee condition, bilateral hand condition, bilateral hip condition, and bilateral wrist condition are all denied.,Service connection was not granted as the evidence does not support that any of these conditions began during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right shoulder disorder, low back disorder, right finger disorder, and left finger disorder due to deficiencies in the examination reports provided by the VA examiners. The Veteran is required to undergo additional examinations and obtain opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these disorders.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for back and right hip disabilities have been dismissed due to the appellant withdrawing his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including updated medical examinations.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is granted a 40 percent disability rating, effective prior to August 23, 2017. From that date, the Veteran's condition is rated at 40 percent. The Veteran also receives increased ratings for his sciatic and femoral radiculopathies.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for a back condition and aggravation of pre-existing scoliosis/kyphosis by in-service thoracic muscle strain and chronic low back pain. The Veteran's conditions include DDD, lumbosacral sprain/strain, mechanical back syndrome, facet joint arthropathy, IVDS, foraminal lateral recess central stenosis, and radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, as well as his right foot conditions (Morton's neuroma and hallux rigidus), are being remanded for additional development including VA examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a low back disorder and hernia due to failure to report to scheduled VA examinations. The Veteran's low back disorders are being evaluated, as is his hernia.

The Board has denied service connection for various foot, knee, and back disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing their onset during or relation to service.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities have precluded his substantial and gainful employment since December 28, 2011. The Board finds that the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating have been met.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but the issues regarding back disability, bursitis, and anemia are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The claims for right shoulder, right knee, and back disabilities have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.,The claim for bladder incontinence disability is being remanded as it does not involve service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding his back disorder and its onset during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 24, 2013. The Board found that the evidence did not stand in 'approximate balance' with the evidence supporting his claim.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine spondylosis, finding that the Veteran's back disorder had its onset during service. Service connection was denied for eczema due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the VA examiners' qualifications and a need for further examination. The Veteran's scoliosis is being evaluated, along with her degenerative disc disease.