Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding his service-connected bilateral pes planus, low back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability as he withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been withdrawn. The remaining issues, including those related to the left hand and right knee disabilities, are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

GERD has been dismissed as the RO granted a new claim for GERD in June 2023, which was not part of the original appeal.,Service connection for scars on the bilateral eyebrows is granted. The Veteran's lay testimony regarding his injury during service is considered credible.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities, and a back disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's back disorder.

The Board has determined that additional evidence was submitted after the appeal was transferred to the Board and a waiver of RO review was sought. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for tinnitus is remanded as no SSOC addressing this issue has been issued.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, sciatic nerve was granted a 40 percent rating from October 17, 2012 to February 8, 2013.,An initial rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disease (arthritis) of the lumbar spine prior to November 7, 2019 and since January 1, 2020 was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for a back disability and a rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus. The Veteran's claim is being reviewed due to the need for additional medical opinions and examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral and cervical spine disabilities, but has remanded both issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee, right knee, and thoracolumbar spine disabilities are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to comply with previous remand directives. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic low back disability is now before the RO for further review.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left lumbosacral plexopathy is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a lumbar spine condition, including as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability, due to inadequate opinion in the March 2023 VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a disability of the lumbar segment of the spine, finding that her current back condition was not caused by or related to her military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right knee disability, an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD prior to November 6, 2019, and TDIU due to PTSD. The Veteran's attorney raised a claim for TDIU by indicating that the Veteran is unable to work due to his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a lumbar spine disorder, and a right shoulder disorder due to incomplete development following previous remands.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination and missing treatment records, particularly regarding the nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has decided that the claims for service connection of low back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder need more information from the Veteran's Reserve service records. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these records and verify all periods of ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted, and his increased ratings for back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy were also granted. The rating for the back disability is set at 20 percent, while the rating for the right lower extremity radiculopathy remains at 20 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability during or within one year after service and no link between any diagnosed condition and service.