Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient medical records and inconsistencies in diagnoses.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder disability and a low back disability. As such, these issues are dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back condition, including degenerative arthritis, finding that it had its onset during service and continues to persist.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine osteoarthritis and left ankle stress fracture, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an additional VA examination of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, as there have been recent developments in his medical records and he and his representatives believe the current rating is inadequate.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of left foot, left knee, and low back disabilities due to inadequate VA opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine arthritis is related to his active service, and thus grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's back disability was granted a 40 percent rating effective August 28, 2023.,A separate 20 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve is also granted, effective from January 6, 2020.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his service-connected chronic low back strain with degenerative disc disease and for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities prior to September 21, 2017. The remand includes requests for additional VA examinations and for obtaining private treatment records.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome and spinal fusion, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each granted initial 40 percent ratings effective March 5, 2019. TDIU eligibility is also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to new evidence submitted by his representative.

The Veteran's low back disability is not rated higher than 40 percent due to lack of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.,Left and right sciatic nerve radiculopathy are each rated at 20 percent, with no higher rating possible based on the criteria provided.,Service-connected psychiatric disability was granted a 50 percent evaluation prior to December 16, 2023, but denied any rating in excess of 70 percent beginning that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's upper back condition and its relationship to service. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected, while his dyslipidemia and other disabilities are denied. The case is remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including cervical spine, low back, right knee, left knee, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. The reasons include a need to obtain additional evidence from the Veteran and his treating physicians, as well as an examination to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), and sleep apnea. The appeals are remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for vocal cord disorder, upper digestive disorder, right shoulder disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, and knee disorders. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or any service-connected disability.

Your appeal for service connection for a back disability was mistakenly docketed in the legacy system and is now being handled through a separate, properly docketed appeal stream within the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) system. The legacy appeal is dismissed as it does not have jurisdiction.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.