Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection and has determined that he is entitled to service connection for osteoarthritis of the lumbosacral spine with bilateral IVDS, left shoulder arthritis, and right shoulder arthritis. The decision resolves all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a low back disability due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete service records. The case will be returned for further development, including obtaining an adequate VA medical opinion and additional service records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal for additional development and consideration of his claims, including obtaining relevant treatment records and providing an addendum opinion to supplement a previous DBQ.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, lumbosacral strain, and right leg neuralgia were denied. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the disabilities and service or any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's lower back disability, including a lumbosacral strain, spondylosis, and facet arthropathy with disc bulges, is granted.,Increased evaluations for right knee degenerative arthritis and left knee degenerative arthritis are remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and secondary service connection for left lower extremity sciatica, finding that the evidence is at least in approximate balance as to whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder, but has remanded his claims regarding evaluations for lumbar spine and left leg disabilities, as well as service connection for radiculopathy of the lower extremities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to December 30, 2015, and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 are all remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds the Veteran has a diagnosed cervical spine condition, back condition, and bilateral knee conditions that are at least as likely as not related to his military service. The Veteran's headaches are also found to be at least as likely as not related to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral foot disorder, dental trauma upper front teeth, residuals of a broken nose, low back disability, sleep apnea, hypertension, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence. Additional medical records are needed from Social Security Administration, and VA examinations are required for each issue.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbosacral strain and stenosis with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, right lower extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity neuropathy, render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD, back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and TBI have been granted service connection. The Veteran is also awarded an increased rating of 70% for his PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's back disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected major depressive disorder and other factors. The VA needs to provide a comprehensive examination and opinion on these issues.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and readjudication due to new evidence added to the record after a previous statement of the case (SOC).

The Veteran's claims for hyperhidrosis, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and hemorrhoids were dismissed. The Veteran's claim for service connection of hemorrhoids was granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal was improperly docketed under the AMA system and remands the case for issuance of a statement of the case addressing service connection for lumbar spine disability and right knee disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for his back disability, finding that it is related to injuries sustained during active duty.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion on the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified mood disorder and other trauma or stressor related disorder is directly related to her period of active duty.,There is no evidence of a head injury in service, nor any current residuals thereof. The claim for residuals of a head injury is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting additional examinations to address the Veteran's back disability prior to July 17, 2017, and whether he has radiculopathy in either lower extremity.