Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for a left hip disability and back disability. The case is remanded to obtain addendum opinions addressing secondary service connection and direct service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to new evidence received since the last Statement of the Case. The claims will be readjudicated in a Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a left ankle disorder and lumbosacral disorder are granted. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his lumbar spine disability was dismissed due to the death of the claimant.

The Board has vacated the portion of its April 2019 decision that denied service connection for a back disability and sleep apnea, as the Veteran was not provided an opportunity to present his case at a hearing. The claims are now REMANDED for further development.

The Veteran's appeal of the claim for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for a back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee and low back disabilities due to insufficient development in previous decisions. The case will be reviewed with additional medical opinions to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities are being remanded due to a lack of recent VA examination.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,The rating reduction for right lower extremity radiculopathy from 40 to 20 percent was not proper, and the 40 percent rating is restored effective June 11, 2016.,For the appeal period from March 1, 2016 to June 11, 2016, a higher than 20% rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the sciatic nerve is denied.,A higher than 20% rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the femoral nerve is remanded.,A higher than 40% rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the sciatic nerve is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability. The issues of increased ratings for the lumbar spine disability, GERD, and hypopigmented lesions are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives and insufficient development of evidence. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a spine disability, including cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II is being returned for further action.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for restoration of his former 20 percent ratings for left and right upper extremity radiculopathy disabilities associated with cervical spine disability, effective December 1, 2018. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, and right foot disabilities are currently pending.

The Veteran's claims for right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and left knee disability have been reopened. The claim of service connection for penis deformity has been denied.,An effective date of January 11, 2017, but no earlier, has been granted for the assignment of a 70 percent rating for unspecified anxiety disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, including private medical records and a statement from her primary care physician. The Veteran's service connection claims are related to her duties as a cargo handler in the Air Force Reserve.

The Board has remanded the appeals for additional development due to a failure to provide proper notice of substitution.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for lumbar spine condition.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus has been withdrawn. The Board has remanded several service connection and rating issues due to the need for additional evidence or examinations.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 10 percent prior to May 27, 2016. From May 27, 2016, the rating was increased to 20 percent. The Board denied a higher rating for both periods.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete authorization forms and missing private treatment records. The issues of increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and TDIU prior to November 23, 2022 are also being remanded.