Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, specifically to ensure all records related to the Veteran's treatment through the VA community care program are associated with the claims file. The issues of increased rating and TDIU remain in dispute.

The Board has granted a rating of 40 percent for the appellant's low back disability, effective from the date of the decision. The appeal is denied for other issues as they are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning in its decision, specifically regarding a March 2023 VA medical examination. The Veteran's back disability is being reviewed again for proper service connection.

The Board has granted the reopening of the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD. The other issues remain denied.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher disability rating for his cervical spine disability has been remanded due to the failure to schedule an examination. The VA is instructed to reschedule the examination and obtain any outstanding treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and concerns about the adequacy of previous opinions. The issues include hypertension, back disability, acquired psychiatric disabilities, bilateral pes planus, right great toe disability, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's low back condition is granted service connection as it was noted on his entrance medical examination and increased in severity during service. The Veteran's headaches are not entitled to an initial compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of a left orbital fracture is denied as there is no evidence of visual dysfunction resulting from the injury.,For the period from September 7, 2012 to June 23, 2023, the Veteran's lumbar spine condition does not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent. After this date, it does not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent.

The Veteran's July 2014 VA treatment records indicated a worsening of his noncompensable service-connected migraine headaches, raising an informal claim for increased rating.,VA treatment records prior to March 2015 do not indicate any worsening of the Veteran's left shoulder and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases of lumbar spine and left knee disabilities for further development, including obtaining medical opinions to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's low back and bilateral knee disabilities are found to be secondary to his service-connected ankle arthritis. His tinnitus is related to noise exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is related to service, and remanded for further examination and opinion regarding other issues. The remaining claims are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and issues are intertwined with other rating claims.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's low back disability and tingling in his left foot.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for back, right knee, and left knee disorders due to a lack of evidence showing that any of these conditions were aggravated by his military service or related to his service-connected left toe disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of DDD with IVDS was granted, along with separate ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The effective date is set at September 5, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board has remanded several of the issues due to insufficient evidence and will require further examination.,Service connection was not granted for a bilateral eye condition, headache condition, sinus condition, low back condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, colon condition, GERD, heart condition, hypertension, and OSA.

The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD has not been productive of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes, so his claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion and new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The matter is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back condition and migraine headaches, as well as a TDIU claim, are being remanded due to the need for new examinations considering the Veteran's limited mobility and recent hospitalization.