Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a low back disability due to insufficient medical opinions and lack of evidence linking the condition to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as related to noise exposure during service.,Service connection for hypertension is granted due to the PACT Act, effective from August 10, 2022. The claim for service connection on any other basis is remanded.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left knee disability and secondary service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, osteopenia of the femoral neck of the right hip, and osteopenia of the femoral neck of the left hip has been granted. Other claims remain pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete service personnel records and a need for additional examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for low back, left knee, left hip, and right hip disabilities due to missing VA treatment records from October 2018 to July 2020. These records are necessary to evaluate the probative value of a clinician's opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to address whether the Veteran's current back and neck disabilities are related to his service, specifically during his eligible period of service.

The Veteran's depression condition is granted a 70 percent rating from September 21, 2007 to October 5, 2016. Ratings for his lumbar condition, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are all granted at 40 percent throughout the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disability, which was diagnosed as lumbar strain. The examiner is asked to review the Veteran's service treatment records and provide an opinion on whether his current back condition is related to his active service.

The Veteran's request for a higher rating for her painful scar of the right hip and a 20 percent rating for her right ankle disability are denied. The Board finds that a remand is necessary to determine if the Veteran has a lumbar spine disability due to her service-connected bilateral hip disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and effective date have been remanded due to the complexity of the medical issues involved.

The Veteran's back disability, right knee disability, and right hip disability are granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.,For the period of appeal prior to July 5, 2019, entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for impairment of the left thigh is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a restoration of the 40% rating for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) effective June 21, 2017 is granted.,The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lower back. The Board finds that the criteria are met and grants this claim.,The Veteran also seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy. The Board finds that the criteria are met and grants this claim.,The Veteran further seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy. The Board finds that the criteria are met and grants this claim.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for cervical spine disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, and bilateral knee disorders are inadequate. The Veteran must be afforded new examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including PTSD, left ear hearing loss, foot conditions, cervical and lumbar spine conditions, sleep apnea, TBI, headaches, and seizures. The Veteran was not provided with a VA examination for his feet or headaches, and additional records are needed regarding an accident in Tennessee.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, a rating in excess of 10 percent for painful scar, thoracolumbar mid-spine, and an increased rating for thoracolumbar spine spondylosis, degenerative disc disease, scoliosis, and intervertebral disc syndrome before June 1, 2020.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including left ankle, foot, wrist, shoulder, low back, and right knee injuries. The VA examinations are needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings and service connection as the appellant withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has granted service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder and bilateral knee disorders, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active service, including parachute jumps and injuries sustained during deployment.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including cervical spine and thoracic spine conditions, right upper extremity radiculopathy, osteoarthritis of the great toes, gastrointestinal disability, Peyronie's disease, and erectile dysfunction. The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to assess the current severity of these conditions, as well as whether there is a nexus between his service-connected disabilities and any other claimed conditions or exposures.