Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a bilateral foot condition, back condition, and herpes due to insufficient examination reports. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development due to the submission of new VA treatment records and medical examination results.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral arm numbness, back disorder, and psychiatric disorders due to potential issues with the opinions provided. The Veteran's service connection claims are not granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the cause of the Veteran's low back disorder. An addendum opinion is needed from a VA examiner.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability prior to September 30, 2019, as it did not meet the criteria for a rating greater than 10 percent.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it began during active service.,Service connection for the right knee condition and left knee condition were denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to in-service complaints or events.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in total unemployability, as he has not provided specific information about his employment history and income levels.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and other procedural issues.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine disability as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability due to a lack of medical evidence supporting this theory.

The Board has granted service connection for a back condition, including degenerative arthritis of the spine and lumbar spondylosis, as well as bilateral lumbar radiculopathy. The decision is based on evidence showing that these conditions are causally related to an injury during military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome, right and left lower extremity sciatica, as well as cervical spine disorder, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,Service connection is also being remanded for the Veteran's claimed right upper and left upper extremity neuropathies.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding that there is no competent or credible evidence linking his current disability to service. The Board also found that the Veteran's current back disorder was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected right knee patellofemoral syndrome and/or bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a low back disability due to insufficient evidence on the etiology of the condition. The Veteran's lay statements and post-service medical records are considered, but further examination is needed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for scars of the left and right breasts, as well as residuals of excision of fibromas on her breasts (other than scars), are granted.,The Veteran's service connection claim for migraine headaches is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete VA examination reports.

The Veteran's initial rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine remains at 10 percent, and separate ratings for right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy are proper.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine disability was reopened, but his claims for left shoulder and right shoulder disabilities were not. Service connection is granted for a deviated nasal septum due to presumed exposure during active duty. Service connection is also granted for rhinitis due to presumed exposure during active duty.

The Board dismissed the appeals because the appellant did not file a valid substantive appeal after the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal for floaters in both eyes was dismissed. The Veteran's left knee chondromalacia patella condition is granted as service-connected. The right knee condition remains under review and will be remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine and intervertebral disc syndrome, as well as left lower extremity radiculopathy. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.