Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including ischemic heart disease, lumbosacral strain, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The appeal for service connection of COPD has been withdrawn and dismissed. The appeals for service connection of upper back/neck disability and low back disability are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and lumbosacral strain is being remanded for a new examination to assess its current severity.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back and right knee disabilities due to new evidence received since the last denial. The Veteran's symptoms are linked to his military service, but a VA examiner will need to provide an opinion on whether these conditions are related.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability and a rating in excess of 40 percent for a lumbar spine disability. The claim for diabetes mellitus is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's back condition, radiculopathy, and skin condition.

The Board has granted service connection for multiple conditions including left and right shoulder tendonitis, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, left hip arthritis with subsequent replacement, right hip tendonitis, right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and left and right ankle tendonitis.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations were denied. The Board found that the current ratings did not accurately reflect his service-connected lumbar spine and left knee conditions, but also noted that there was no evidence of incapacitating episodes or ankylosis during the relevant time periods.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran is also facing a TDIU claim that is being remanded as well.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a relationship between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lower back disability, finding that her current condition is related to her active military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination and a need for further medical opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine condition.

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability prior to February 13, 2015 due to his service-connected disabilities. On or after February 13, 2015, the combined rating of his service-connected disabilities does not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and thoracolumbar spine disorder due to additional development being needed. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 40 percent, but complications are also considered. For his knees and spine disorders, a VA examination is required to determine their etiology and severity.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD is granted as it meets the criteria for service connection.,The Veteran's claims for left knee, right foot plantar fasciitis, and left foot plantar fasciitis are remanded due to lack of sufficient evidence.

The Veteran's disability ratings for his left and right lower extremity disabilities were improperly reduced, and the VA has been ordered to restore the original ratings.,The Veteran's back disability was also remanded due to insufficient evidence of improvement.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back, right hip, and left hip disabilities as secondary to bilateral knee disabilities due to inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a neck condition, finding that there was no in-service injury or disease related to her current disability and insufficient evidence of continuity of symptomatology post-service.

The Board has found that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate for the purposes of determining service connection. The case is being remanded to obtain an adequate addendum opinion.