Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability and bilateral leg sciatica, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a low back disability due to inadequate reasoning in the July 2022 VA medical opinion and the need for an addendum opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back condition, eye condition, and Hepatitis A.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection. The Board finds the Veteran's back disability, occasional dizziness, obstructive sleep apnea, heart condition, trouble swallowing with pain in the chest, erectile dysfunction, type II diabetes mellitus, light sensitivity, right lower extremity numbness, and left lower extremity numbness must be remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, effective July 31, 2023. Radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities (sciatic and femoral nerves) are also rated as 40 percent each since July 31, 2023.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, as there are deficiencies in the last VA opinion of record and additional development is needed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back and neck disorders due to an inadequate medical opinion based on an inaccurate factual premise. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if his current back and neck disorders are related to in-service complaints.

The Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection are being reopened, and the Board is remanding several issues including gastrointestinal disorders, lumbar spine disorder, heart disorder, ED, sleep apnea, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and back disability have been reopened, and the Board has found that these conditions are related to his military service. The claim for TDIU is also remanded.,The VA will provide an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's back disability was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

Entitlement to a rating of 40 percent for lumbar degenerative joint disease and spinal stenosis from January 31, 2012, to October 25, 2021, is granted.,Entitlement to a separate initial disability rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for left lower extremity neuropathy of the femoral nerve since January 31, 2012, is granted.,Entitlement to total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) from January 31, 2012, to October 25, 2021, is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and migraines, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to her military service. The claims were reopened due to new evidence received since the last final denial.

The Board has determined that the claims of service connection for bilateral hip, knee, neck, and low back disorders must be remanded due to inadequate opinions from previous VA examiners. New examinations are needed to determine if these conditions are related to the Veteran's period of service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for HIV-related illness is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for lumbar herniated disc and lumbar arthritis is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, and the appeal is denied.,The Veteran's lumbar strain with lumbar muscle spasm requires additional development to determine if there are any functional limitations or flare-ups that affect his ability to work.,Service connection for left lower extremity neuropathy and right lower extremity neuropathy is remanded due to lack of evidence of peripheral neuropathy at the time of examination.,Service connection for dizziness and vertigo (secondary to service-connected traumatic brain injury) is remanded as there was no radiculopathy found during the lumbar spine examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's low back and left knee disabilities are not service-connected as secondary to his service-connected bilateral ankle disabilities. The decision is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's lumbosacral sprain/strain is currently rated at 10 percent prior to May 2023 and increased to 40 percent thereafter. The Board finds that additional development is needed before the claim can be adjudicated.

The Board has found that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment, and thus denied his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability. The claims for service connection for sleep apnea and migraines are remanded due to potential toxic exposure from burn pits during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability are remanded due to the inadequacy of the August 2018 VA Back Conditions examination.