Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of a right hip disorder and reopening of his back disorder claim have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence of service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed with additional development, including obtaining his complete service medical and personnel records from his National Guard and Army Reserve service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back and cervical spine disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted service connection. The Veteran's lower back condition remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck, right shoulder, low back, right hip, and bilateral plantar fasciitis disabilities due to service in Bosnia. The VA must obtain a new examination to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hearing loss, ulcerative colitis, bilateral flatfoot, and back condition due to insufficient evidence or need for additional development.

The Veteran's lumbar spine, cervical spine, right hip, and left hip disabilities have been granted initial ratings from October 26, 2006 to the present. The Veteran also received increased ratings for her radiculopathy of various nerves in both upper and lower extremities.

The Veteran's petition to reopen her claim for service connection for Parkinson's disease was denied. The Board also remanded several other claims related to her lumbar spine, right knee, left knee, and left hip disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating for his lower back condition, right knee condition, left knee disability, and TDIU due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran is also requested to provide updated VA treatment records and documents related to his SSA disability benefits application.

The Board has previously remanded the claim for a new records-based examination to review treatment records and address changes in the Veteran's back condition. The February 2023 examiner did not provide useful evidence as they failed to review subsequent treatment records and evaluate the disability for the interval subsequent to October 2015. The Board is therefore remanding the claim for a new records-based examination by an examiner other than those who previously failed to comply with the remand orders.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of skin cancer excision scars, bilateral hearing loss, and multiple noncompensable disabilities are dismissed. The Board also remanded the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected hypertension, as well as his claims for arthritis of various joints.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, low back disability, left forearm scar, cervical spine strain, and left ankle sprain due to incomplete opinions. The Veteran's lay statements regarding onset of his disabilities are not credible.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of a pilonidal cyst and scars associated with it has been granted. The claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea secondary to that disorder, eczema, and low back disability have been remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating of bilateral pes planus has been granted. The Board also remanded the issues regarding service connection for degenerative disc disease with anterolisthesis, thoracolumbar spine and TDIU due to his low back disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and respiratory disabilities, finding that there is insufficient evidence to support these claims. The appeal regarding neurological tics was remanded.,Service connection will be granted if the medical evidence shows a current disability that is related to in-service injury or disease.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various disabilities, including back disability, hip disabilities, nerve disabilities, and knee disabilities. The case is being returned to VA for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo is denied as he does not have this condition.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, major depression disorder, anxiety disorder, insomnia) is denied. The Veteran submitted opinions from private doctors stating that he has these conditions, but the Board finds their opinions outweighed by other medical evidence of record and insufficient to establish a current diagnosis.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss is denied as there is no in-service noise exposure documented and his STRs do not show any relevant symptoms. The VA examiner found that his diagnosed hearing loss is less likely than not related to service.,Service connection for a back disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right lower extremity nerve disorder, and left lower extremity nerve disorder are denied as the Veteran's STRs do not show any relevant symptoms. The VA examiner found that his diagnosed conditions are less likely than not related to service.,Service connection for a heart disorder (atrial fibrillation, bradycardia) is denied as there is no in-service noise exposure documented and the VA examiners found that his atrial fibrillation is at least as likely as not related to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's STRs show he had a benign heart murmur at entrance to service.,Service connection for bilateral lower extremity edema (right and left) is denied as there is no in-service noise exposure documented and the VA examiners found that his diagnosed conditions are less likely than not related to service.,Service connection for hypertension prior to August 10, 2022 is denied. The Veteran's STRs show he had a benign heart murmur at entrance to service and the VA examiner found that his bradycardia is at least as likely as not related to herbicide exposure.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction prior to August 10, 2022 is denied. There is no in-service noise exposure documented and the Veteran's STRs show he had a benign heart murmur at entrance to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to February 13, 2020. The Board found that the evidence does not show he was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for various conditions, including right knee, left knee, right ankle, left ankle, cervical spine, low back, sleep apnea, and post-concussion syndrome. The appeals are now remanded to further develop evidence related to these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection and initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis, back condition, headaches, and mouth condition due to additional evidence being added to the record.