Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee and low back disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence received by VA, and the AOJ should review this evidence in the first instance.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee, jaw, back and neck disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during service. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has identified new evidence that was not previously considered and has ordered the AOJ to review this evidence. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded so that the AOJ can consider all of the evidence, including the newly added VA-generated documents.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine condition and left orbital fracture disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a new VA examination to assess his lumbar spine condition and for research into his exposure to herbicide agents. The diabetes mellitus claim is also remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder and arthritis of bilateral hands and fingers, finding that the Veteran's conditions were not caused or aggravated by his active-duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate previous opinions and inextricably intertwined issues. The Veteran's representative raised theories of secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and a separate rating for his TBI due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his back disorder and the nature and severity of his TBI.

The Veteran's tinnitus, right forearm disability, and disability of digits IV and V of the right hand are granted service connection. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and back disability are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was rated at 10% prior to October 13, 2016. The Board denied an increased rating for this condition. A separate 20% rating was granted for moderate left knee instability effective February 6, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea, migraine headaches, and various musculoskeletal conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from October 20, 2011, to February 1, 2015.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is denied as he does not have a current disability for VA purposes.,Service connection is granted for the lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability. Service connection is also granted for the cervical spine disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, including obtaining relevant medical records and conducting a retrospective examination. The claim will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and Adjustment Disorder, is granted as related to service.,Headaches are granted as a qualifying chronic disability due to Gulf War illness.,Service connection for lower back condition is remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for lumbar strain with IVDS, right femoral stress fracture, and left tibial stress fracture due to insufficient medical opinions regarding functional loss.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and bilateral hearing loss. Service connection was granted for a right hand ganglion cyst.,Service connection was not established for the remaining conditions: right hand disability other than ganglion cyst, left hand disability, and left knee disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, spondylolisthesis, and spondylolysis with degenerative joint disease claim is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his disability. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to the need for further development.