Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, left hip disorder, and fungal infection of the feet as there was no evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.,There is no current diagnosis of a fungal infection of the feet in the Veteran's medical records.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder and remanded the rating decisions for DDD of the lumbar spine, as well as the propriety of separate ratings for radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for a back condition. The matter is now pending further development and review.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and bilateral knee disorders due to inadequate nexus opinions provided by a VA examiner. The Veteran reported falling while carrying heavy gear during enemy attacks in Vietnam, which may be related to his current conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The issues of right foot, left foot, lumbar spine, arthritis (including rheumatoid arthritis), respiratory disability (including asthma, fainting spells, and chronic cough), pulmonary embolism, and lupus are all being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and degenerative lumbar disc disease with herniated disc (lumbar spine disability). The Veteran's current conditions are found to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claim for a TDIU due to unclear evidence regarding the appellant's capacity to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, specifically related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc syndrome has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis.

The Board has found that the claims for TDIU and SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance are remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with prior Board directives.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete development of records. The Veteran's low back disability is being reviewed again for proper service connection.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy was denied. The evidence did not show incapacitating episodes or unfavorable ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine.,The Veteran's service-connected conditions were rated based on their impact on range of motion and neurological symptoms.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination to address deficiencies in the VA's efforts to obtain relevant records and medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions, including hernias and spinal issues in the neck, back, and shoulders. The Veteran is required to provide additional information about how these conditions were caused by physical trauma sustained during military sexual assaults.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and a lumbar spine disability due to inadequate medical opinions and lack of an examination.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 10 percent, but the evidence does not show that it meets or approximates the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis from September 5, 2015 to July 18, 2022 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral pes planus with arthritis, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, headaches, multiple sclerosis (MS), ischemic heart disease (IHD), and prostate disorder. The reasons given were that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or in-service exposure.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for right shoulder scar, bilateral knee disability, low back disability, and bilateral ankle disability. The appeal for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia is granted an initial 30 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision. The ratings for cervical strain with IVDS and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine are denied prior to October 19, 2021, but granted thereafter. Separate ratings for left hip bursitis and patellar instability associated with left knee degenerative arthritis are granted effective from October 19, 2021. The rating for right knee bipartite patella with discoid medial meniscus is granted a separate 20 percent rating as of January 28, 2022.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including a TDIU claim and the need to consider additional medical records. The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disorder, left lower extremity radiculopathy with femoral nerve involvement, right lower extremity radiculopathy (rated as sciatic nerve impairment), and right lower extremity radiculopathy (rated as femoral nerve involvement) are all subject to remand.