Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his depressive disorder is granted, but the service connection claim for his lower back condition remains pending and remanded.

The Veteran's disability rating for disc disease of the lumbar spine with hemangiolipoma was denied prior to September 17, 2020. The initial disability rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve was also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and medical opinions regarding service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and back disorders. The Appellant's claims are based on his Reserve duty periods.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability. The claims for service connection of the left shoulder, cervical spine, back, and right wrist disabilities are remanded due to incomplete verification of service dates and need for additional medical examination in context of combat exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and readjudication due to a lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's treatment for a low back disorder prior to 2016. The appellant is asked to provide details of the Veteran's treatment by Drs. P.F. and M.R. prior to 2016, including when the Veteran sought treatment and the nature of such treatment. An addendum medical opinion should be obtained on remand.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete evidence and need for additional medical opinions. The issues of back condition, pain down right leg, pain down left leg, stomach issues, and skin issues are all being remanded as there is insufficient evidence or further development is needed.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and a left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lower back condition is etiologically related to his active military service and grants service connection for this disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA medical opinions and lack of adequate evidence regarding his esophageal conditions. The claims will be reconsidered with new examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to insufficient compliance with previous remand orders. The Veteran's lay statements regarding her in-service assault are considered, but a new VA medical opinion is required to address whether her current disabilities are related to that event.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA opinions regarding the Veteran's low back condition and its relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that new and material evidence was submitted. The cervical spine disability is not related to service or a service-connected condition.,Service connection for the cervical spine disability is denied as there is no credible evidence linking it to service.

The appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for a sleep condition is dismissed.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a lumbosacral disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and alopecia due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip, lower back, and right leg disabilities due to a lack of medical evidence on record.

The Board has restored a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's chronic lumbar spine sprain with narrowing of L4-5 disc-space, effective February 1, 2019. The reduction in rating was improper due to lack of improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from April 9, 2007 to September 8, 2008 due to his service-connected migraines, degenerative disc disease, and left knee disability.,The Veteran was also granted a TDIU from January 1, 2013 to the present. The decision is based on his service-connected migraines, degenerative disc disease, and left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the appeal due to additional evidence being added to the claims file after the issuance of the October 2020 supplemental statement of case.

The Veteran's right knee disability, rated at 30 percent prior to December 11, 2012, is now rated at 60 percent effective from that date.,The Veteran has been granted TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.