Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's neck, back, and left ankle disabilities are being remanded for additional development due to non-compliance with prior remand directives. The radiculopathy claims are inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claims for these disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disorder.

The Veteran's back disorder and neck disorder are being remanded for further evaluation, as the current evidence suggests a worsening of these conditions. The issue of SMC is also being remanded due to its connection with his back disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disability. Service connection is granted for OSA, but denied for a neck condition. The Veteran's PTSD is associated with his sleep apnea, which in turn may be related to obesity. The case is remanded for further development including obtaining an opinion on whether obesity is causally related to or aggravated by the service-connected conditions and for a VA examination to assess the current severity of the PTSD.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for cataracts, wrist condition, back condition, Hepatitis C, and periodontitis were granted. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a chronic back condition and Hepatitis C are now reopened.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of consideration under the PACT Act, and also because further examinations are needed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete development and lack of VA medical opinions. The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and right shoulder disorder are still under review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's service connection claims for low back, left shoulder, and headache disabilities due to a lack of documentation in the service treatment records (STRs) and no current diagnosis. The Veteran contends that he was treated for these conditions during service and currently suffers from them.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a chronic lumbar spine disability has been reopened due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. His lumbar spine arthritis is found to be related to his active service, and he is granted service connection. The initial rating for his cervical spine disability remains at 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches and denied service connection for right foot, right knee, and low back conditions. The decision is based on the Veteran's STRs showing complaints of these conditions during his military service.

The Board dismissed the appeal for increased rating of left knee arthritis prior to May 10, 2017. Effective dates were granted for service connection and evaluations for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as a surgical scar on the back.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a back disorder is remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including the failure to seek records of alleged assaults by VA personnel and the inadequacy of the VA examination opinion.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.,The Veteran's right upper extremity radiculopathy and left upper extremity radiculopathy are each granted with evaluations of 40 percent and 30 percent, respectively.

The Veteran's appeal to seek an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for his back injury with L5-S1 degenerative disc disease was denied because he did not timely file a Notice of Disagreement (NOD).

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including anxiety and PTSD, GERD, hypothyroidism, joint pain, a low back condition, and neck sprain are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The VA will seek verification of the Veteran's in-service stressor events.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gastritis and low back disability have been readjudicated, with the evidence showing that the conditions are related to his military service. The appeal is granted in these two cases.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain and service connection for arthritis of the right knee, effective February 22, 2018. The appeal regarding these issues is now resolved in favor of the appellant.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II are granted due to presumed exposure during service in Thailand. The claims for Alzheimer's disease and dementia, right knee ACL tear and meniscus degenerative changes, depression, lumbar spine degenerative changes with lordosis, and right shoulder acromioclavicular joint impingement with mild tendinopathy are denied.,The Veteran was granted presumptive service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II under the PACT Act. The claims for Alzheimer's disease and dementia, right knee ACL tear and meniscus degenerative changes, depression, lumbar spine degenerative changes with lordosis, and right shoulder acromioclavicular joint impingement with mild tendinopathy remain denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for thoracolumbar and cervical spine disabilities, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's intervertebral disc degeneration, thoracolumbar, is currently rated at 40 percent and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.