Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in obtaining private treatment records that may be relevant to establishing a connection between the Veteran's lumbar spine disorders and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and lumbar strain with scoliosis, render him unable to secure or maintain a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition due to procedural errors and the need for new opinions on the nature and etiology of his condition, as well as whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected right ankle and left shin splints.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and effective dates in the AMA system due to procedural defects. The issues remain pending in the legacy review system.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition and the evidence does not support a finding that it began during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.,The Veteran's PTSD rating is denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating, which requires occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for dizziness is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error related to the lack of an opinion on whether the condition is caused or aggravated by his hypertension.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for neck disability (claimed as neck pain) is remanded due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the onset and etiology of the claimed condition, including consideration of a 2009 cervical spine diagnosis.,The Veteran's claim for increased rating for thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis is remanded due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the extent of his pain symptomology.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbosacral strain and intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to insufficient evidence and the need for additional development. The Veteran's claims include left shoulder, cervical spine, ankle, knee, foot, thigh, and back conditions related to her military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for erectile dysfunction, bilateral eye disability, back disability, and left knee disability due to their relationship with service-connected conditions. The Veteran's failure to appear for VA examinations prevented a proper evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, but has remanded his claim for cervical spine disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen for obstructive sleep apnea, lumbar spine disability, and headache. Service connection is now established for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU and SMC is remanded due to the need for further development, including a review of her employment history since March 2018 and an extraschedular evaluation of whether her service-connected migraine headaches alone prevent her from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various foot, wrist, hip, and spine conditions have been withdrawn. The case is remanded for a new examination to determine the current severity of his cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's appeals for TDIU, increased ratings for lumbar strain and radiculopathy have been dismissed as withdrawn.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of fracture of vertebra and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current functional limitations.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected low back and depression disabilities is being remanded as there are conflicting employment history reports.

The Board has granted service connection for left elbow, right elbow, cervical spine, left wrist, right wrist, left knee, left ankle, and right ankle conditions all of which are related to in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and PTSD), gout, and obstructive sleep apnea due to potential theories of service connection not previously considered.,Additional evidence was submitted since the last SSOC, including VA treatment records from October 2020. The Board has also requested an addendum opinion on the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability may have pre-existed service and is seeking clarification on whether it was aggravated by service or if it is related to service. The case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to obtain VA treatment records from before March 9, 2004.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a new VA medical opinion due to inadequate previous opinions.