Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for thoracolumbar spine disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that his current condition is not secondary to or caused by his service-connected right knee meniscal tear. The Board also found no evidence of obesity being due to his service-connected knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete etiology opinions and failure to substantively comply with previous directives.,Specifically, the Board found that the VA examiners' opinions were inadequate as they did not address the Veteran's contentions regarding his MOS as an aircraft mechanic and the onset of symptoms during work activities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient service treatment records and a need for an examination to determine if the Veteran's current low back disability is related to his active service.

The Board has decided to remand the issue of increasing the initial disability rating for the low back disability due to outstanding non-VA treatment records and a need for updated VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of any current back disorder, including spondylolisthesis and spondylolysis.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding service connection and increased ratings for various conditions, including shin splints and radiculopathy of the lower extremities and lumbosacral strain. The appellant requested withdrawal of all issues.

The Veteran's reduced disability ratings for thoracolumbar and cervical spine disabilities were restored, effective December 1, 2018. The appeal is granted as the reduction was improper.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and a cervical spine disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.,There is no evidence of chronicity during or after service, and the VA examiner opined that the current diagnoses are more likely due to post-service events.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and left knee retropatellar pain syndrome with patella femoral tendonitis are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a more comprehensive VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, and diabetes mellitus due to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis may also be related to his left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and remanded the claims for a low back disability. The case is now pending with instructions to obtain medical opinions and SSA records.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the Veteran submitting a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) on an incorrect form, and the RO has not issued a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine and bilateral hip disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a direct link to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, from August 1, 2018; prior to August 1, 2018; and for separate ratings in excess of 10 percent for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The remand is due to inadequate medical examinations used by the Board.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a bilateral eye disability, low back disability, neck disability, and residuals of head trauma due to requests from the Veteran's representative for information about VA examiners and outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for allergic rhinitis and service connection for sinusitis has been withdrawn.,The Veteran's IBS with GERD is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI has been rated at 70% since December 11, 2017. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether his service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable from performing all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient consideration of evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disability and his obstructive sleep apnea.