Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and left shoulder disability, but denied the claim for dental treatment purposes. The case is remanded to obtain additional records and provide an examination for the left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted service connection. The cervical, right knee, left knee, right hip, and left hip disabilities are not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 6, 2015. The Board has remanded several issues for further development.

The claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed due to conflicting medical opinions and missing service treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back condition and for special monthly compensation based on the need of aid and attendance due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, heart disorder, cervical spine disorder, and lumbar spine disorder. The current VA medical opinions do not adequately address the exposure basis or provide a clear nexus opinion.

The Veteran's back, left knee, and major depressive disorder have been granted service connection. The Board has also remanded for further examination to determine if his erectile dysfunction is related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right sciatic radiculopathy, left sciatic radiculopathy, and lumbosacral strain due to new evidence received since the last prior adjudication.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and granted.,Service connection is also granted for tinnitus. The Board notes that the claims for left knee condition and back condition are being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including obesity resulting from his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, diagnosed as lumbar disc disease, is related to service.,There is insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran's right eye disability is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for ankylosing spondylitis of the lumbar spine was denied. The Board found that the disability did not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to February 11, 2020 and 40 percent thereafter.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's back disability prior to December 20, 2019. The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for his thoracolumbar strain (back disability) during this period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and neck condition secondary to hearing loss and vestibular disorder due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding the relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic back condition during or after service and that any current condition is not related to his service-connected Meniere's disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions.,The Board is requesting further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension, lumbar spine disability, right foot/ankle disability, obstructive sleep apnea, right shoulder condition, and left shoulder condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back, left knee, left hip, and right hip disabilities as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability due to insufficient medical opinions addressing aggravation.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for a left knee disability and has remanded the issues of service connection for right knee, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities. The Veteran's claims are pending.

The Veteran's right knee condition is aggravated by his service-connected left knee degenerative arthritis and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, thus meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder and whether obesity served as an intermediate step between his service-connected major depressive disorder or right knee disability and his low back condition.