Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a back disability due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset and etiology. The Veteran's presumed soundness at entry into service is now considered, and additional opinions are needed from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's service connection claim for Multiple Sclerosis is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his disability developed during service or within the presumptive period.,The Veteran's increased rating claims for Degenerative Changes at L4-5 and L5-S1 (back disability), Right Lower Extremity Sciatic Nerve Radiculopathy, and Left Lower Extremity Sciatic Nerve Radiculopathy are remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the impact of flare-ups on his functional ability.,The Veteran's service connection claim for Bladder Disability is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if it is proximately due to or the result of his service connected back disability, and whether it was aggravated by his service-connected back disability. ,The Veteran's service connection claim for Bowel Disability is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if it is proximately due to or the result of his service connected back disability, and whether it was aggravated by his service-connected back disability.

The Board has dismissed all claims as the Veteran died during the appeal process and there is no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these cases.

The Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are remanded for further evaluation due to the need for clarification on whether their functional limitations constitute ankylosis.

The Veteran's IBS has been granted a 10 percent rating from November 21, 2016. The other issues have been remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further consideration due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and a need for AOJ review.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), sacroiliac injury, and sacroiliac weakness on a direct basis as chronic disease under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b) due to continuous symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of meningitis, increased ratings for peripheral neuropathy, and sleep apnea have been denied. The Board has also remanded several other issues related to the Veteran's disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and alcohol use disorder, as well as service connection for a lumbar spine disability due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives.

The Board denied service connection for back and neck disorders due to lack of evidence linking current conditions to service.,Service connection was also denied for left inguinal hernia residuals as there is no credible evidence showing the condition was related to service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection on all withdrawn claims of diabetes, right shoulder osteoarthritis, lumbar spine arthritis, coronary artery disease, and a lung disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD and bipolar disorder are granted as service-connected.,Service connection for a back disability is denied.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, finding that his condition does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for degenerative disc disorder of the lumbar spine, osteoarthritis of the right knee joint, femoral acetabular impingement syndrome of the left hip, and femoral acetabular impingement syndrome of the right hip, all secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his back disability, RLE radiculopathy, right knee disability, left knee disability, or bilateral ankle tendonitis. However, the Veteran's claims for service connection of prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction (ED), SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ, and TDIU were remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date prior to June 21, 2018 for his TDIU, finding that he did not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU prior to that date and does not warrant one on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the appellant's claims for additional development due to inconsistencies in his claimed service and unavailability of STRs and personnel records.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to non-compliance with prior instructions. The low back condition and bilateral lower extremity neurological disorder claims are being reviewed again.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluation of cervical spine disability and service connection for bilateral knee degenerative joint disease was denied. The Board found no evidence linking the current disabilities to active service, including as due to exposure to environmental toxins.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, right and left ankle disabilities, a back disability, and cystitis. The claim for service connection for migraine headaches is remanded.