Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the sciatic nerve due to inadequate examinations and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete service records. The Veteran's back disability is being reviewed again with a focus on his active-duty service.

The Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, a back disability, and left side restless legs and arms have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection has been granted for these conditions.,The Veteran's migraines are being remanded as his claim is not yet fully adjudicated.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including back, neck, knee, shoulder, and esophageal conditions, have been granted. The issues of service connection for a left knee meniscal tear, right hand disability, left hand disability, fatigue (undiagnosed illness), and memory loss (undiagnosed illness) are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate previous VA examinations and a need for a retrospective examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's low back condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected ankle disorders caused or aggravated his thoracolumbar spine disorder and lower extremity radiculopathy. The case will be reviewed after obtaining additional VA medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disorder, including whether it is related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA as secondary to obesity caused by the appellant's service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities, including bilateral ankles and lumbar spine. The claim of a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar strain with spondylosis T9-T12 is remanded. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen a previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a lung disability is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to assess the Veteran's cervical spine condition, as the previous examination did not adequately address flare-ups and their impact on function.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The claim for an initial compensable rating for the right knee scar is denied. The claims for service connection for a left eye condition, heart condition, GERD, gastrointestinal condition, right shoulder disability, and lumbar spine disability are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for upper and lower back disability, neck disability, headaches, and sleep condition are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar strain (claimed as back) is granted, and the case is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease with lumbar spondylosis and spondylolisthesis is rated at 20 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating.,Both right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are currently rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's psoriasis, right shoulder osteoarthritis, and sinusitis are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's right shoulder condition (excluding osteoarthritis), to include tendinopathy and superior labral fraying, is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's low back condition is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset and etiology of his cervical and lumbar spine disabilities. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability is also remanded as it was not addressed in the initial decision.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbar strain is granted, with a final effective date of July 1, 2018.

The Veteran's Lumbar Degenerative Arthritis is granted a rating of 40 percent from March 26, 2015 to September 4, 2020. A higher rating is denied for this period. For the period after September 4, 2020, a rating greater than 40 percent is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy are secondary to his service-connected left knee disability, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection for tinnitus is granted.,For the period prior to April 8, 2017, a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar DDD L5-S1 is denied. From April 8, 2017, a 40 percent rating is granted and a separate 20 percent rating is granted for each lower extremity radiculopathy.,The Veteran's right knee chondromalacia patella and meniscus residuals are rated at the noncompensable level. The scars on his knees and feet are also rated as noncompensable.,Service connection for PTSD is granted with an initial 50 percent rating, but not higher.