Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for dizziness and low back disorder due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's former spouse reported witnessing his pain, and there is conflicting evidence about when he first experienced lower back pain.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back disability, skin disability (tinea corpus), and sleep apnea due to potential service connection issues. The Veteran's assertions regarding in-service events and exposure are considered, along with VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the claims.,Service connection has not been established for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Board granted service connection for fibromyalgia and low back disability, but dismissed the claim for left knee disability due to a full grant of benefits.

The Board denied service connection for various hip, ankle, foot, and back disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service. The claims were based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are also denied.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been reopened and service connection is granted.,The Veteran's claims for lumbar spine, left knee, right knee, left foot plantar fasciitis, and cervical spine disabilities have been remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected right knee and left ankle disabilities aggravated his lumbar spine DDD and DJD.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's low back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy, but granted separate ratings for right lower extremity radiculopathy. The effective dates were not addressed in this decision.

The Board denied service connection for low back and left leg disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete examination reports. The issues include secondary service connection for lower back, right hip, left hip, and left knee disorders.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of service connection for a right ankle disorder was granted. Service connection for erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, and neurological disorders were also granted. The rating for back disability is set at 20 percent effective April 11, 2009.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot, left foot, and low back disabilities due to a lack of medical evidence regarding these conditions. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine if his current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, back condition, and abdominal scars have been granted service connection. The Veteran is assigned a disability rating of 100% for his abdominal scars.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disability, increased initial ratings for frostbite of the left and right great toes, and TDIU due to issues with obtaining adequate medical opinions and development.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased evaluations have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his appeal.,The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection, effective dates, and evaluations.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to glioblastoma multiforme, finding that none of his service-connected disabilities directly caused or contributed substantially or materially to his death. The appeal is dismissed as there was no evidence linking the glioblastoma multiforme to his service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, but has determined that additional development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and back conditions, make it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claims can be adjudicated. The RO should request the Veteran's in-service clinical records, verify his periods of active duty for training or inactive duty for training, and obtain VA medical opinions to address whether his current disabilities are related to service.