Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of his service-connected back disability remains in appellate status, and the issue is remanded due to insufficient evidence. The claim for left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with the back disability is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's additional disability was caused by a foreseeable event and if so, whether VA personnel were at fault. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board denied service connection for neck and back disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service.,Service connection was granted for diffuse muscle pain due to a MUCMI.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including degenerative arthritis of the spine and DDD of the thoracolumbar and cervical spine with sensory neuropathy and radiculopathy (claimed as nerve disorder/neurological signs and symptoms), is presumed to have existed prior to service. The Board found no clear and unmistakable evidence that any increase in severity occurred during service, thus denying service connection.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current DDD and lumbar spine arthritis, as well as bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, are proximately caused or aggravated by his service-connected testicular cancer.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, right knee tendonitis, left knee tendonitis, chest wall muscle strain, and tension headaches are being remanded for additional examinations to assess their current severity.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular percentage standards set forth for a TDIU prior to April 12, 2017. The Board found that he was not limited in the types of work he could perform due to his service-connected conditions and thus denied the claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, back condition, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right lower extremity neuropathy due to outstanding VA and/or private treatment records and further examination.

The Veteran's back disability is now rated at 40 percent effective June 28, 2021. The rating was increased from a previous 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical and lumbar spine conditions are being remanded due to unclear examiner responses regarding range of motion, potential ankylosis, and the discontinuation of intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS).

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his intervertebral disc syndrome (previously lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine) is remanded due to inadequate examination and potential flare-ups not adequately addressed.

The Board has granted service connection for a lower back disorder and remanded the issue of service connection for a right shoulder disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions. The issues include service connection for inguinal hernia, right shoulder disorder, eye disorder, heart disorder, GERD, and low back disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and TDIU prior to April 15, 2014 due to insufficient medical opinions addressing these issues. Additional development is needed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis, neck conditions, bilateral knee conditions, joint conditions, and back conditions. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or any period of active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle, right knee, and back disabilities. The Veteran's bilateral hip disabilities are remanded for further examination.,Evidence of record does not support the reopening of claims for bilateral hip disabilities due to lack of a clinically diagnosed disability.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain, left knee status-post ACL repair with degenerative arthritis, and right knee patellofemoral chondromalacia and degenerative arthritis. The conditions are found to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings in excess of 50 percent for a psychiatric disability, 10 percent for neck disability, and 10 percent for back disability has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and evaluation of various disabilities, including back disability, pes planus, thoracolumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, left upper and lower extremity disabilities (including peripheral neuropathy), and lichen simplex chronicus. The Veteran's testimony and medical records indicate that these conditions may be related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to unavailability of the Veteran for a VA examination and the need to obtain additional medical records. The Veteran's lower back condition is still under consideration.