Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that further development is needed before a decision can be made on whether she is entitled to service connection for her claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded two service connection claims for additional development, but is moving forward with the decision on the increased rating claim and the issues of service connection for bilateral foot disability (plantar fasciitis) and right knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his in-service injuries and his current condition. The examiner concluded that the Veteran's lumbar disc disease is more likely caused by age, obesity, and his occupational history as a mailman.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new medical examination and additional development, including obtaining treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for thoracolumbar degenerative joint disease with muscle spasm and radiculopathy of the lower extremities due to incomplete examination results. The Veteran will need further medical evaluations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee, left knee, lumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities due to lack of contemporaneous medical records and insufficient documentation recording the Veteran's complaints or diagnoses during service.

The Board denied service connection for hip disorder and bilateral ankle disorder. The low back disorder claim is remanded.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran's claimed hip, ankle, or low back disorders.

The Veteran's appeal involves a rating for degenerative disc disease, chronic lumbosacral strain/pain syndrome and an initial rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve. The case is on remand due to additional evidence received since the August 2019 statement of the case.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability. The claims of left foot fibroma, right foot fibroma (including postoperative residuals), right foot neuropathy secondary to removal of fibroma, right carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), and left CTS are remanded due to the need for further medical examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and needs further development before a final decision can be made on whether the Veteran's low back disability is service-connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for low back strain, finding no evidence of a chronic disability in service or within one year post-service.

The Board has found that additional development is required to adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to ionizing radiation and other factors. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not incurred in service.

The Board has dismissed all initial rating claims and earlier effective date claims for the Veteran's service-connected disabilities due to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to February 24, 2011. The Board granted an earlier effective date of September 24, 2004 for the grant of SMC(k).

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is granted effective July 5, 2017. The claims for an increased rating for PTSD and service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are remanded.

Service connection for degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is denied. Service connection for right wrist disability, including de Quervain's tenosynovitis, chronic right wrist pain, and right ulnar nerve entrapment, as well as left ankle disability, to include tendinitis and residuals of a ruptured Achilles tendon, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities due to inadequate VA opinions and missing records. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed again with new medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, duodenal ulcer, lumbar spondylosis, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since November 16, 2010. The Board has granted TDIU from that date and also found eligibility for DEA benefits effective as of the same date.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was previously rated at 10 percent before June 13, 2023. After the remand and additional development, her rating was increased to 40 percent effective June 13, 2023. The Board denied a higher rating for the period prior to June 13, 2023.