Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's OSA, left shoulder and low back disabilities are related to his service. As a result, the claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has ordered remand of her claims for right hip/right leg disorder, left hip/left leg disorder, back disorder, right leg numbness, left leg numbness, and ovarian cysts.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep disorder, lumbar spine strain, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, left and right knee strains, migraine headaches, other residuals of TBI, and other specified trauma and/or stressor-related disorder may be related to his service in Southwest Asia or secondary to a service-connected disability. The Board has also noted that the Veteran's employment history needs to be verified for the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including OSA, lumbar degenerative disc disease, carpal tunnel syndrome, and anxiety disorder, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and experience.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of increased ratings for PTSD, lumbar spine degenerative changes, and right shoulder impingement syndrome. The VA will obtain any relevant Vet Center records and schedule the Veteran for a comprehensive examination to assess the severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hearing loss is denied. The Board has also remanded the issues of increased ratings for back, left knee, left foot, and right foot disabilities due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and neck/upper back disability have been denied. The case is remanded for further examination to determine the nature of the Veteran's neck condition and any acquired psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's right leg disability is being remanded due to a duty to assist error in the August 2020 medical opinion. The Board will request an updated VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran has an additional hip disability and whether it was caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill or similar incidence on the fault of VA.,The Veteran's LBBB is being remanded due to a duty to assist error in the August 2020 medical opinion. The Board will request an updated VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran has ischemic heart disease and whether it was caused by herbicide exposure or right leg disability.,The Veteran's RLE radiculopathy is being remanded due to a duty to assist error in the August 2020 medical opinion. The Board will request an updated VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran has ischemic heart disease and whether it was caused by herbicide exposure or right leg disability.,The Veteran's LLE radiculopathy is being remanded due to a duty to assist error in the August 2020 medical opinion. The Board will request an updated VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran has ischemic heart disease and whether it was caused by herbicide exposure or right leg disability.,The Veteran's LBBB is being remanded due to a duty to assist error in the August 2020 medical opinion. The Board will request an updated VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's LBBB is aggravated by his service-connected right leg disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, right hip, and left hip disorders due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine condition and his current degenerative disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's back disorder is not found to be secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.,There is no current diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of this condition.

The Veteran's back disability is related to his active service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected insomnia is granted as secondary to his back condition and tinnitus. The Veteran's increased rating for his service-connected back condition remains at 40 percent.

The Board has found a duty to assist error for the claim of service connection for a back disorder and has ordered an additional medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's degenerative disc disease is related to his military service, including training while carrying heavy packs and climbing up and down ladders and stairs.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for eligibility for specially adapted housing (SAH) or a special home adaptation (SHA) grant due to insufficient anatomical loss, blindness, burns, or other qualifying disabilities.

The Board dismissed all claims due to the Veteran's death and because the appeal was not perfected under the modernized review system (AMA).

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's low back condition is granted as service connection due to continuity of symptoms since the initial injury in 1974.,The Veteran's right shoulder condition is granted as service connection due to continuity of symptoms since the initial injury in 1973.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability should be remanded for further development due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, sciatica of the left and right lower extremities, and lumbosacral strain due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims are being remanded because there is a possibility that the Veteran was exposed to toxic exposure risk activities during her military service.