Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's lumbar spine arthritis and cervical spondylosis were not shown as chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, and there has been no continuity of symptomatology since active service or within a year of separation from active service. The Board finds that the persuasive weight of the evidence shows these disabilities were not incurred in service.,The Veteran's right knee arthritis and left knee arthritis were also not shown as chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, and there has been no continuity of symptomatology since active service or within a year of separation from active service. The Board finds that the persuasive weight of the evidence shows these disabilities were not incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection regarding his right knee, left knee, lower back, and neck conditions must be remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and records. The VA will need to secure complete service records, verify the Veteran's duty status during relevant periods, and provide examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

Your claim for service connection for your back disability has been resolved, and you are now receiving a 20% rating effective February 13, 2023. Your appeal is dismissed as moot because the benefit sought on appeal has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's initial higher rating for lumbar spine disorder from 10% to 20% has been denied, as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating during the periods under appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The hypertension and tinnitus cases did not meet the criteria for higher ratings, while the migraine headaches claim was granted a 30 percent rating effective from June 7, 2021. The lumbar spine disability received a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back condition, bilateral hearing loss, and headaches due to insufficient evidence regarding whether his conditions are related to service or pre-existing conditions. The claims will be returned for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's low back disability and related radiculopathy issues are remanded for further development. Service connection for PTSD is also remanded.

The Board has determined that additional medical examinations and opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for increased ratings, service connection, and TDIU. The issues have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee disorder, left tibia stress fracture, lumbar spine disorder, and bilateral foot disorder due to failure to appear for scheduled VA examinations. The Veteran is advised that he must report for any scheduled examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for recurrent low back strain and service connection for a right hip disability, finding that there was no persuasive evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's tension headaches are granted as incurred during service. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied, and the claim for an earlier effective date for left ear hearing loss is also denied. TDIU is granted with conditions met. Effective dates for other claims are not granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, and headache disability have been granted. The claim for hypertension has been denied.,Service connection for the Veteran's headache disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD and TBI.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 40 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability from January 20, 2019, and entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to August 14, 2020. The Board requested additional VA examinations and remanded the issues due to conflicting information regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a left knee disability. The Veteran's low back disability rating is also remanded due to insufficient information regarding its severity.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder.

The appeal concerning the 1151 claim is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for lumbar spine disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability due to secondary service-connected bilateral knee osteoarthritis.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional service treatment records due to incomplete information.

The Board has remanded the claim for additional development due to inadequate etiology opinions regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disabilities.