Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar strain, left knee internal derangement of medial meniscus, left knee osteoarthritis with degenerative joint disease, right knee internal derangement of medial meniscus, and right knee osteoarthritis with degenerative joint disease due to new evidence from his Reserve service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various shoulder and hip disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome was granted. The cases of low back disability and skin condition of the bilateral feet are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral pes planus, back condition as secondary to bilateral pes planus, and bilateral knee condition as secondary to bilateral pes planus is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for his cervical spine and low back disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a TBI, dental injury, and for an increased rating for low back strain are being remanded. The claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and associated left and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The issues of rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome, service connection for sinusitis, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) are remanded.

The claim for service connection of a back disability is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the November 2022 VA examination. A new examination is required to determine if the Veteran's current back disability is related to his military service or if it was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected right ankle or right knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication due to new evidence added since the last Statements of the Case.

The Board has determined that the reduction of disability ratings for left and right knee instability from 10% to 0% is void ab initio. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral foot condition has been reopened due to new evidence received since the April 2016 rating decision. The claims for increased ratings for various conditions are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability has been reopened. The Board has also remanded the claims for service connection for major depressive disorder, PTSD, anxiety disorder, and substance abuse due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's low back disability is being remanded due to outstanding records and the need for further investigation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for his psychiatric disability, service connection for his back disability, and service connection for macular degeneration due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to higher ratings for major depressive disorder and back disability, as well as service connection for erectile dysfunction and urinary frequency. The Veteran's claims are pending further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for back disability, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's low back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board denied service connection for herpes, finding the evidence did not support a link to active service.,The Board remanded several other claims including tinea versicolor, broken and bitten off left middle finger, right side lower rib contusion residuals, right knee tendonitis, bilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome, left foot disability, back condition, left shoulder disability, irritable bowel syndrome, and respiratory disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with effective dates ranging from March 16, 2001 to January 4, 2008. The conditions were related to his military service and the VA has assigned full ratings (100%) for all granted issues.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition did not result from her military service and that any pre-existing condition was not aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder to include PTSD and depression, as well as his claim for service connection for a back disability due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of these conditions during active duty.