Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection, rating increases, and TDIU due to incomplete review of recent VA treatment records and need for additional medical examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected back and right knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is also referred to the AOJ for initial adjudication of a claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to incomplete service treatment records, particularly regarding physical therapy at Aberdeen Proving Ground. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization for any outstanding private medical records related to his back or foot problems since separation from service in August 1996.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine disorder, right foot disorder, and right hip disorder. The claims were based on the Veteran's contention that these conditions are related to his service or a service-connected disability.,Specifically, the VA examiner found no evidence of any in-service injury leading to the current conditions and noted that the Veteran did not have any complaints or diagnoses related to these conditions during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, and low back disability due to inadequate VA opinions. The Veteran's statements regarding in-service noise exposure and injuries are considered credible.

The Board dismissed the appeal for a compensable rating of hypertension. The application to reopen claims for service connection of various ankle, knee, hip, and lumbar spine disorders was granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a gastric condition, back disability, and neck disability have been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board found that additional medical examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available.,The Veteran's left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy associated with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent.,The Veteran's right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy associated with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 10 percent.,The Veteran's right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy, right lower extremity associated with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent since August 22, 2023. Prior to that date, the rating was 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability, finding that it began in-service and is related to his active duty.

The Veteran's claim for SMC at the housebound rate prior to February 3, 2020 was denied as he did not meet the criteria for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) due to his entitlement to a TDIU based on multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran sustained an additional disability during a VA examination in November 2010 and whether this was due to carelessness, negligence or fault on the part of VA. The appeal is remanded for these determinations.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is reopened, but service connection remains denied.,The Veteran's right foot disorder claim is reopened, but service connection remains denied.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis is granted based on chronicity of symptoms after separation from service.,Service connection for fibromyalgia is denied as there is no current diagnosis and the evidence does not support a link to service.,Service connection for left foot disorder is denied due to lack of in-service event, injury or disease.,Service connection for cervical spine disorder is remanded.,Small bowel intussusception claim is remanded.,Headache disorder (including migraine and tension) claim is remanded.,Thoracolumbar spine disorder claim is remanded.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy claim is remanded.,Left lower extremity radiculopathy claim is remanded.,Erectile dysfunction claim is remanded.,Undifferentiated spondyloarthritis (claimed as right shoulder pain, left shoulder pain, etc.) claim is remanded.

The Board has determined that further development and action is needed to determine the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including arthritis of the knees, sleep apnea, back disability, and right ankle disability. The appeal will be remanded for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability was granted a 40 percent evaluation from April 15, 2015, to April 7, 2016, and from June 1, 2016, to the present. The RO also increased his evaluations for radiculopathy affecting the left sciatic nerve, right sciatic nerve, left femoral nerve, and right femoral nerve.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient retrospective medical opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected low back disability from June 6, 2008. The AOJ is instructed to obtain a new VA medical opinion that addresses the amount in degrees of range of motion lost due to pain and flare-ups experienced by the Veteran.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and sciatic nerve disabilities are granted with specific ratings, while service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition and TDIU remain pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lower back disability, including lumbar spine spondylolisthesis, spondylosis, and degenerative arthritis, had its onset during service and is related to service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's GERD and Barrett's esophagus were incurred during service. The claims for right shoulder, left shoulder, back, bilateral flat foot, right ear hearing loss, tonsil problems, and obstructive sleep apnea are pending.