Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right knee, left foot, left elbow, and left knee disabilities. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.,The Veteran was also denied service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was remanded for further evaluation, and his chronic diarrhea claims were also remanded. The rating for lumbosacral strain remains at 10 percent, effective November 12, 2021.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back, right knee, left knee, and ankle disabilities. The appeal is dismissed for the dental disorder.,For the remaining issues, the Board found that there was at least a 50% likelihood that the Veteran's current disabilities were incurred in or caused by his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back, left hip, cervical spine, and right shoulder disabilities due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives. The RO is required to obtain updated VA treatment records from April 2017 to present, all medical records located in VA's VISTA imaging system, and any private treatment records relevant to the claims.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that caused the current disabilities. The claim was also denied for an initial rating on the left ankle sprain.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability has been reopened, but the issue of determining whether his current back disability is related to his active-duty service remains pending. The Board has decided that further examination and consideration are needed before a final decision can be made.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for various lower back and knee disabilities due to incomplete records and a need for clarification regarding his employment status prior to January 28, 2020.

The Board has determined that the issues of service connection for right knee numbness, left knee numbness, calcium deposits in both knees, low back condition, and neck condition are not resolved due to insufficient evidence. These matters have been returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's claim to restore the disability rating for lumbar myalgias secondary to spinal block was dismissed as it has been fully granted in a prior decision.,The Veteran's claim of an initial compensable disability rating for a left knee scar was withdrawn and dismissed.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to the evidence showing a current disability and in-service noise exposure.,Service connection for neck pain/pinch, low back pain, left shoulder condition, and left knee condition are denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for restoration of a 40 percent rating for his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative changes is granted. The issue of entitlement to a higher than 40 percent rating remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, but no higher, prior to December 21, 2022. From December 21, 2022, the rating remains at 40 percent for his right lower extremity radiculopathy and 40 percent for his left lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran's urinary incontinence is rated at 10 percent from March 14, 2022.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck and back disabilities due to new evidence submitted. However, the claims are still pending as they have been remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is at least as likely as not related to service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded several claims for increased ratings, including those for low back disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, left elbow disability, GERD, allergic rhinitis, and TDIU. The Veteran is also required to provide authorization for VA to obtain private treatment records from a facility in Panama Beach, Florida.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition and left lower extremity radiculopathy, but denied service connection for the Veteran's left foot condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left leg numbness (claimed as left leg disability), and anxiety due to incomplete development of records and need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, weight gain, sleep apnea, and psychiatric disabilities. The issues have been returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Board has remanded the issue of whether the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU rating prior to April 18, 2018, based on his August 19, 2014 claim for increased ratings.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for depression and TDIU due to unresolved issues regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's depression, specifically whether it is aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.