Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for lumbar back disability, nose cancer, and soft tissue sarcoma. The soft tissue sarcoma claim was remanded due to the need for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating for thoracolumbar spine, service connection for right knee disability, and entitlement to TDIU prior to October 27, 2022 are all remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's lumbar spine, left knee, and right inguinal hernia disabilities have been granted service connection.,Service connection for a bilateral foot disability, skin condition (claimed as dermatitis), and lung or respiratory condition (claimed as bronchitis) is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disorder is granted, with a 40 percent rating effective July 18, 2022. The claim for bladder or bowel impairment secondary to the lumbar spine disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) was denied. The Board found that there is no current TBI and the lay reports were not competent to establish the existence of a current disability. For the issue of total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to September 14, 2015, the Veteran's combined schedular disability rating did not meet the minimum requirements for consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a). The Board found that the Veteran was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities prior to September 14, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical records and a need for another VA examination. The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder, including degenerative arthritis of the spine, is being reviewed again.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and left foot disorder due to additional development being needed.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's claims for back disability, right lower leg sciatica, and digestive disability are remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board finds that additional development is required before the underlying claims for service connection can be adjudicated on the merits. Specifically, VA outpatient treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records need to be obtained.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded due to procedural errors and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is denied for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD. The effective dates assigned are correct.

The Board has granted a rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability with L4-5 decompression and fusion residuals prior to July 31, 2021. The condition is rated under Diagnostic Code 5243 due to intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Veteran's back disability and left knee patellofemoral syndrome are granted service connection. The claim for increased ratings is remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease and right knee degenerative joint disease. The VA examinations conducted were found to be inadequate, necessitating further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, but further examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his left knee and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's low back disability, specifically whether it is related to service or secondary to other conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various orthopedic and respiratory conditions due to concerns about the adequacy of the VA examiners' opinions regarding the etiology of her claimed disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and prostate cancer (due to herbicide agent exposure) due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is required to provide authorization for VA to obtain private treatment records, and verification of his in-service herbicide agent exposure must be attempted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions have been denied. The maximum schedular rating of 10 percent has been granted for the right index finger disability, but no higher rating is warranted due to lack of ankylosis or functional impairment equivalent to amputation. Service connection was not established for any of the claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations.