Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his left and right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathies due to incomplete consideration of new evidence from a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back pain, hearing loss, and tinnitus have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.,The claims for service connection for back pain and hearing loss are remanded as additional information or medical examination may be needed to determine their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and thoracolumbar spine disabilities due to inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to errors in duty to assist and incorrect dates of ACDUTRA service. The appellant's back condition may have worsened during her military service, but a new medical opinion is needed based on the correct facts.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various shoulder, knee, sinus, and back conditions due to a lack of VA examinations or etiology opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for further medical examination and opinion regarding her claimed bilateral hearing loss, vision disability, left knee condition, right knee condition, low back condition, left hip condition, and right hip condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee disability and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with stenosis and radiculopathy due to inadequate medical opinions in prior decisions. The Veteran's service connection claims are now pending again.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for further examinations and opinions regarding his right ankle disability, low back pain, left knee strain, and right knee strain.

The Board has dismissed all appeals as the Veteran withdrew her appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and requests for additional information.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides in Panama, which could affect his service connection for diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to outstanding development of records and clarification of periods of active duty, inactive duty training (ACDUTRA), and National Guard service.

The Veteran's bilateral hand disorders and low back disorder were not incurred in or caused by his period of active service, and the Board found no evidence to support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and lumbar spine disabilities due to procedural issues, including failure of VA examiners' opinions to address continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, including intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative arthritis. The decision finds that there is reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran's claim, as his current back conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate compliance with previous directives and the need for further evidentiary development, including obtaining private medical records and an adequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's low back condition.

Service connection for hypertension is granted under the PACT Act due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction is granted as secondary to service-connected hypertension.,Service connection for sleep apnea is denied because it is not causally related to service-connected schizophrenia.,Service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome and left carpal tunnel syndrome are denied due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Veteran's degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine and spondylolisthesis due to a spinal fusion postoperative with scar are rated at 40 percent from May 4, 2009, to present (exclusive of the period of a total disability rating from November 16, 2009, to December 31, 2009).

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain, but remanded the issues of service connection for a back disability other than lumbar strain, left sciatica, and left and/or right hip disability.,Service connection is granted for lumbar strain due to in-service injury and continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's back disability is not rated higher than 40 percent, and his left hip disability is remanded for further examination to determine if it is related to service or a service-connected condition.