Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity are being remanded due to new evidence. The case must be reviewed again with consideration of this additional information.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and lumbar radiculopathy to the right lower extremity, finding that these conditions are related to in-service injuries.

The Veteran's left ankle injury, including Achilles tendonitis and osteoarthritis, is granted service connection. The Veteran's bilateral foot conditions are remanded for further examination and opinion. His hearing loss is remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current degree of impairment. Service connection for bronchitis is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the issue of whether the Veteran's gastrointestinal complications, including IBS and GERD, are secondary to his service-connected low back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that it had its onset during active duty.

The Veteran's melanoma and related residuals, as well as his back disability and right knee disability are granted service connection. The left elbow disability is denied due to lack of in-service injury or disease, and the bilateral foot disability is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back, neck, left knee, right knee, right hip, left shoulder and right shoulder conditions as secondary to his service-connected ulcerative colitis. The case is remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right elbow condition.

The Veteran's sciatic radiculopathy, left and right lower extremities, is rated at 40 percent since November 23, 2022. The Veteran also received a grant of TDIU based on his service-connected conditions.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the December 2019 remand directives and another remand is necessary to determine whether Dr. David Barba, a VA physician who performed the Veteran's spinal surgery in January 2010, is still employed within the VA health care system at large. The Board also instructed that if Dr. Barba is no longer employed by VA, written notice of this fact should be provided to the Veteran and his representative, and they should be given an opportunity to submit additional relevant evidence.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted a rating of 20 percent, effective from February 26, 2021. The Board also found her left lower extremity radiculopathy to approximate moderate incomplete paralysis and granted it a 20 percent rating as well.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including effective dates for ratings and entitlements. The case is returned to the RO for further development of missing records.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD, thoracolumbar spine strain, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in November 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his low back disability and for TDIU due to insufficient examination records, including those from flare-ups.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disorder, finding that it is related to his military service and arthritis. The claim was reopened due to new evidence submitted after the initial denial in March 1999.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of bilateral hearing loss was denied, and his service connection claim for low back disability was also denied. The decision does not specify an effective date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right leg soft tissue injury or residuals thereof, and therefore service connection for such is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the current severity of his service-connected conditions, as well as for further development regarding other issues. The Veteran will also receive a Statement of the Case (SOC) addressing all pending claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining private treatment records and addressing the issue of service connection for bilateral sciatica as secondary to a low back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disorder as secondary to his service-connected right knee, left knee, and/or left foot disorders. The decision is based on a finding that the Veteran's low back disorder was aggravated by these service-connected conditions.