Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 11, 2021.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an incomplete medical opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability. The matter is being sent back for further development and a new addendum opinion.

The Veteran's right ankle injury is granted as service-connected due to its onset during active duty and continuity since then.,Service connection for low back condition, lung scarring, residuals of pneumonia, and mild lingular scarring is remanded due to insufficient evidence on the etiology of these conditions.,Service connection for joint and muscle pain, headaches, memory loss, and fatigue is also remanded as there are no clear findings or opinions regarding Gulf War Syndrome.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from the Trinka Davis Veteran's Village Clinic.

The Board denied service connection for a neck condition and a back condition, finding no evidence of current disabilities or causation related to service.,Secondary service connection claims for numbness and tingling in the upper and lower extremities were also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis / osteoarthritis of the lumbosacral spine at L5-S1, and intervertebral disc syndrome. The Veteran's current lower back condition is considered to be directly related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a deviated septum has been reopened, and the Board finds that his testimony regarding an in-service motor vehicle accident is new and material evidence. Service connection for cervical degenerative disc disease is granted. The Veteran's claims for service connection for inguinal hernia, left knee condition, and right knee condition are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to incomplete records and inadequate examination reports.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and neck disabilities due to procedural issues, specifically regarding the use of the modernized review system (AMA).

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain and denied service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability other than lumbar strain. The lumbar strain is found to be related to an in-service motor vehicle accident, while the other back disabilities are not considered related to service.

The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and his in-service storekeeper duties. The case will be returned for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and a new addendum opinion from a VA clinician.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her condition, including during flare-ups or after repetitive use.

The Board has granted the Veteran's TDIU claim based on her service-connected disabilities, and dismissed the issue of entitlement to service connection for memory loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to insufficient evidence in previous examinations, particularly regarding functional loss during flare-ups.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and private provider records, as well as scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability, but remanded the issues of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome and left hip disability due to lack of sufficient evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for lumbar degenerative joint and disc disease, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether his current low back disability was related to an injury sustained during active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral foot disability and a back disability, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his active service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the appellant's symptoms started during her military service and are related to noise exposure.,Service connection is also granted for a cervical spine disorder with headaches and a lumbar spine disorder (DDD and IVDS), as new evidence supports reopening of these previously denied claims.