Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The petition to reopen a claim for service connection for memory loss was dismissed.,A new and material evidence has been received, allowing the reopening of a claim for service connection for a back disorder. Service connection is granted for degenerative arthritis of the spine.,Service connection is denied for residuals of frostbite as there is no diagnosis of such during or approximate to the current claim period.,The petition to reopen a claim for service connection for OSA was not addressed due to insufficient evidence, and remanded.,The petition to reopen a claim for service connection for HTN was not addressed due to insufficient evidence, and remanded.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a spine disability due to insufficient rationale in the VA medical opinion and need for further development.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for issues of service connection and ratings for various conditions. The Board is remanding several cases for further development.,The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, heart disorder, cervical spine disorder, migraine headaches, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction (ED), left knee disorder (secondary to right knee disability), bilateral thumb disorders, bilateral index finger disorders, bilateral little finger disorders, bilateral middle finger disorders, bilateral ring finger disorders, bilateral shoulder disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities (secondary to lumbar spine disability), and bilateral elbow disorder are all being remanded for further examination and evidence collection.

The Board has denied service connection for right ear hearing loss due to the Veteran not having a current diagnosis of right ear hearing loss for VA purposes. The cervical neck, left shoulder, and lumbar disorder issues are remanded as additional evidence is needed.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his request for a hearing and the Board finds that he has satisfied all requirements to dismiss the issue.,Service connection is granted for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and sciatica of both lower extremities secondary to lumbar spine strain. The Veteran will need further examination to determine if these conditions are related to service.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as he has not provided authorization for the release of his federal tax returns and additional information regarding his employment status during the appeal period.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine, finding that there is no credible evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected right ankle/foot disability and/or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn is claimed as a substantial factor in causing his back disability.

The Board denied service connection for heart disability, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol), back disability, shoulder disability, and knee disability as there was no evidence of onset during or related to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability due to the lack of evidence showing chronic symptoms in service or within one year post-service, and no causal relationship between current conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint and disc disease, left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal and sleep disorders, finding no current disability diagnoses in the record.

The Board has determined that the VA medical examination provided was inadequate and remands the case for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence, including a lack of VA examination. The case is sent back for further development.

The claims for service connection have been reopened and granted, with a rating of 30 percent effective from the date of claim.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, left leg disability, and sleep disorder due to new evidence submitted since the April 2014 rating decision.,However, the claim for service connection for a left arm disability remains denied as the new evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent since April 14, 2023. The left knee disability remains rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted as service connected. The issues of entitlement to service connection for neck, bilateral hip, left knee, right knee, bilateral ankle, bilateral feet and toes, bilateral shoulder, bilateral wrist, and left hand pointer finger disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete medical opinions and other procedural matters.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and the need for additional examinations. The issues include low back, neck, left shoulder, right shoulder, right knee, and left knee conditions.