Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to conflicting evidence regarding the etiology of these conditions. The Veteran's contentions are being reviewed with an addendum medical opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, and low back conditions due to incomplete medical records and inadequate examination.

The Veteran's detached retina with decreased vision began during active service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The other issues on appeal are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to issues related to her in-service MST, including PTSD, bladder disability, gynecological condition, right ankle disability, and lower back disability. The VA is directed to obtain additional medical records and schedule examinations as needed.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar spine disability and hearing loss, prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment. As such, a TDIU is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include back disability, OSA, and GI disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate rationale in a previous VA opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability. The Regional Office is required to obtain new opinions from a VA examiner that consider the Veteran's lay statements and military duties.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, left foot disability, right hand disability, and right knee disability due to a full grant of benefits in a February 2021 rating decision. The appeals regarding obstructive sleep apnea and lower back disability are remanded.

The appeal for an increased rating for a lumbar spine disability has been withdrawn. The appeals for the left ankle, left knee, left shoulder, and right ankle disabilities are being remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various shoulder and knee conditions, increased ratings for knee disabilities, and an effective date for hearing loss. Additional evidence was added since the last rating decision but not considered by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for personality disorder, eating disorder, left and right ankle conditions with OA, right and left knee conditions with OA, OSA, hip strains, lumbar spine DDD, and neuropathy of the lower extremities. The reasons for remand include obtaining additional opinions regarding the etiology of these disabilities and whether they are related to service-connected disabilities or obesity.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to missing medical examination records and lack of attendance at scheduled appointments. The Veteran's psychiatric and low back conditions will need to be evaluated again.

The Board has granted service connection for back disability, sleep apnea, atrial fibrillation, heart murmur, asthma, and eczema. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete records, need for a new VA examination, and the need to adjudicate TDIU and SMC claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected lumbar IVDS and associated lower extremity radicular disabilities, as well as his claim for TDIU, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hand and left hand carpal tunnel syndrome have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU has also been remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the above issues.

The Board denied service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and bilateral pes planus (claimed bilateral foot pain) as the evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.,There is no direct evidence linking any of these disabilities to service. The Veteran's preexisting conditions were not shown to be aggravated during his period of active duty.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for service connection for a low back disability, left knee contusion residuals, and a chronic eye disability (teary eyes, vision condition). The claim for service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including back and knee conditions, achilles tendonitis, and sinusitis, have precluded her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to March 26, 2020. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise that these disabilities prevented her from working.