Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for her thoracolumbar osteoarthritis and lumbosacral strain, as well as service connection for her left knee disability, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of lumbar lower back, but remanded the claims for right shoulder condition and sleep apnea syndrome due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's acne, eczema, dermatitis, seborrheic keratosis, left shoulder strain and degenerative changes, and back disability manifested by pain are all granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is also granted as service-connected.

The Board has determined that the current VA examination opinions do not adequately address whether the Veteran's back disorder had its onset in service or is otherwise related to his military service, and if so, whether it was subject to a superimposed disease or injury during service. The case is therefore being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a failure by VA to respond to a request from his attorney for the qualifications of VA examiners who conducted examinations in March and April 2011. The Veteran is also requested to provide information for obtaining private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion. The current evidence does not establish that the condition is related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disability, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with lumbosacral strain, and tension headaches as secondary to cervical spine disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disability and left leg disability, including radiculopathy due to incomplete military records and lack of supporting evidence. The Veteran is asked to provide additional lay statements and private treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for a disability of the lumbar segment of the spine and left hip, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including a right knee disability, low back disability, gastrointestinal disability, psychiatric disability, and a disability characterized by internal bleeding. Additional medical evidence was added to the claims file but has not been considered yet.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's initial claim for a low back disability was denied in 1984 and again in 1984. He applied again in 2003, which was also denied. The effective date of service connection for his low back disability is set at July 11, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to March 13, 2015 and from March 13, 2015 to August 3, 2021.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted a rating of 20 percent prior to August 30, 2018. The radiculopathy of the right and left sciatic nerves were also granted initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for periods prior to December 19, 2022.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral leg disability, and bilateral knee disability due to incomplete records and need for further medical examination.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD was granted. Increased ratings were awarded for lumbar strain (40%), bilateral foot degenerative joint disease (10%), and migraine cephalgia (30%). The effective date for the increase to a 10 percent rating for bilateral feet degenerative joint disease is May 25, 2017.

The Board denied service connection for back, right knee, and left knee disabilities as they were not incurred in the line of duty during the appellant's ACDUTRA service from March 1982 to June 1982.

The Board denied service connection for cervical strain and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for kidney cancer due to asbestos exposure during active duty. The decision on secondary service connection for a lumbar spine disability is remanded as the provided medical opinion was inadequate.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for evaluations in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected degenerative changes, lumbar spine with spinal and neuroforaminal stenosis from October 29, 2001 to March 21, 2014, and since July 1, 2014 due to insufficient evidence in the prior VA examinations.