Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is denied. The Board finds that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and his current psychiatric disabilities are not related to service. The matter of service connection for a low back disorder is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for fusion at L3-L4 with absence of L4 pedicle on the right and scoliosis of the thoracolumbar spine, as well as the initial disability ratings for lower extremity radiculopathy. The AOJ is instructed to obtain clarification from the December 2022 examiner regarding whether the Veteran was having a flare-up at the time of the examination and to provide new estimates of range of motion findings during such times.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or chronic disability and noting that the lengthy period without treatment after discharge tends to weigh against a finding of in-service onset.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is secondary to his service-connected right knee osteoarthritis and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis. The examiner must consider the impact of the Veteran's other conditions on his left knee.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for prostate and back disabilities due to a lack of consideration of his lay statements regarding service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her service-connected acquired scoliosis of the thoracic spine was denied. Her claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities was granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development of medical evidence, including an addendum VA medical opinion. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is currently on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand four issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims and one issue regarding a TDIU prior to September 12, 2019. The main reasons for remanding are to obtain missing separation examination records and provide retrospective VA medical opinions on range of motion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen the left arm and right arm disability claims, and denied all issues of increased rating or service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, and low back disability have all been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his thoracic spine condition is denied. His petition to reopen the neck condition claim was also denied.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was previously denied a rating in excess of 20 percent, and the appeal for a higher rating is now remanded.,Service connection for bilateral pes planus (including plantar fasciitis) remains pending due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was reopened, and service connection is granted.,Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and bipolar disorder), with aggravation by service-connected conditions.,A rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine disability is denied.,Initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy and right lower extremity radiculopathy are denied.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for right hip disability is denied.,The Veteran's claims for neck, seizure, and TDIU disabilities are remanded.,No effective date provided as the decision pertains to current service connection status.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar, cervical, right foot, left foot, hepatitis C, and acquired psychiatric disabilities as there is no evidence of in-service onset or relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for cervical spine strain with IVDS, lumbosacral strain with IVDS, and right upper extremity radiculopathy due to incomplete medical records.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus, lumbosacral strain, dermatitis, fatigue, anemia/immune disorder, and a nervous system disorder has been dismissed.,The Board found that the evidence was in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current tinnitus had its inception during active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and consideration due to new evidence added to the record since the last decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his lumbar degenerative disc disease, finding that it is not related to his military service and is more likely age-related.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical examination, and a new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's low back condition is secondary to his service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis and left hip disability.

The Veteran's bilateral knee and lumbar spine conditions are granted as service-connected.