Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

Service connection for a respiratory disability is granted under the PACT Act. Service connection for left elbow, insomnia (claimed as mental health disorder), and gastrointestinal disorders including posttraumatic stress disorder are denied. A temporary total evaluation due to right elbow surgery is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current back problem, including lumbar strain and paraspinal thoracic strain, that was incurred in or caused by service. Therefore, entitlement to service connection for a back problem is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for tinnitus and lumbosacral strain (previously rated as low back pain) because there was no clear evidence of nonreceipt, and thus the presumption of regularity applied. The effective date remains November 13, 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the service connection claims for left ankle, right ankle, and back disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history prior to July 24, 2017. Therefore, entitlement to a TDIU prior to that date is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar strain secondary to his service-connected pes planus has been granted. His service-connected pes planus is also confirmed, and he is now entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The TDIU claim is also remanded as the employment history is unclear.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for the Veteran's back disability and right sciatic nerve neuropathy are inadequate, requiring further examination to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims, including a new VA examination for his service-connected low back disability and an evaluation of all acquired psychiatric disabilities. The TDIU claim will also be reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including acquired psychiatric conditions and musculoskeletal issues. The appeals are pending due to incomplete development of evidence related to stressor verification and examination.

The Board has determined that the RO did not substantially comply with the remand instructions and has therefore ordered further examination of the Veteran's low back, bilateral lower extremity radicular, and surgical scar disabilities.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including rating higher than 20 percent for low back disability, cervical spine disability, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and cystic acne; service connection for thyroid disability secondary to cystic acne; and total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability, finding that it was aggravated by falls resulting from his service-connected Parkinson's disease.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder disorder, cervical spine disorder, and lumbar spine disorder. The evidence supports a finding that these conditions were incurred during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability, cardiac disability (to include coronary artery disease), and pulmonary disability due to insufficient evidence regarding in-service injury.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for thoracic vertebrae wedge deformities with DDD prior to May 31, 2022 was denied as the disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 5242.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for thoracic vertebrae wedge deformities with DDD from June 1, 2022 was also denied. The VA examiner found that the disability did not meet the criteria for an increased rating under DC 5242.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and readjudication due to outstanding VA treatment records from non-VA providers through the Community Care Network, as well as extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable criteria.

The Board has remanded the appeal due to insufficient evidence and scheduling issues, including a missed VA examination. The Veteran's low back disability severity needs to be reassessed, along with any neurological or radiculopathy conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition and left knee strain is remanded due to the need for VA examinations. The claims are not currently decided as they have been previously denied.