Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability and headache disorder due to conflicting opinions regarding their relationship with service-connected fibromyalgia, PTSD, and potential toxic exposure. The case will be reviewed again with a focus on whether these conditions are aggravated by the service-connected disabilities or related to toxic exposure.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate for rating purposes and has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various disabilities, including right knee and bilateral hip disabilities, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The claim for left wrist disability is reopened but denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a coccyx disability, lumbar spine disability, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis is rated at 40 percent, effective April 15, 2011. The rating for right leg sciatica was granted at 20 percent as of September 20, 2019.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA examination after the Veteran's second surgery, and the need for a new examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder with insomnia has been granted, and he is now rated at 50 percent.,The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lumbar spine condition, right lower extremity shin splints, and left lower extremity shin splints due to lack of a fully adequate VA examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen her claim of service connection for a low back disability and has also granted service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease, degenerative joint disease with right lower extremity radiculopathy and intervertebral disc syndrome. The decision is based on evidence showing that the Veteran's current back disability is related to her military duties during active service.

The Board has determined that the development conducted does not comply with the November 2022 Board remand and thus, an additional VA examination is required for both bronchitis and degenerative disc disease L4-5.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for COPD, bilateral hearing loss, and low back strain due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Board has denied service connection for various knee, back, neck, shoulder, and foot disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for flat feet, right knee disability (including as secondary to service-connected left knee osteoarthritis), and back disability due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and service.,Service connection was not granted because the Veteran's current disabilities are not shown to have originated during service or be related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to the lack of evidence showing a current disability. The claims for right foot, left shoulder, lower back, and left foot conditions are remanded as there is insufficient evaluation in the record.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder, neurological disorder (claimed as nerve damage), and right knee disorder due to new evidence received since the final denial in June 1997.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence, including missing STRs.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to service. The case was remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the left rib disability.

The Board has denied a temporary total rating for diffuse herniated disc L4-L5 with degenerative osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine due to lack of treatment related to service-connected disability. The claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and hepatitis C, but has remanded his claim for service connection for a respiratory disability due to asbestos exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records, specifically Social Security Administration and private treatment records from a chiropractor and physical therapist. The Veteran's claim for service connection is reopened based on new evidence.

The Board denied service connection for neck and back conditions as secondary to the Veteran's right shoulder disability, finding no medical evidence linking these conditions to her service-connected condition.