Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including updated medical examinations.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is granted a 40 percent disability rating, effective prior to August 23, 2017. From that date, the Veteran's condition is rated at 40 percent. The Veteran also receives increased ratings for his sciatic and femoral radiculopathies.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for a back condition and aggravation of pre-existing scoliosis/kyphosis by in-service thoracic muscle strain and chronic low back pain. The Veteran's conditions include DDD, lumbosacral sprain/strain, mechanical back syndrome, facet joint arthropathy, IVDS, foraminal lateral recess central stenosis, and radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, as well as his right foot conditions (Morton's neuroma and hallux rigidus), are being remanded for additional development including VA examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a low back disorder and hernia due to failure to report to scheduled VA examinations. The Veteran's low back disorders are being evaluated, as is his hernia.

The Board has denied service connection for various foot, knee, and back disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing their onset during or relation to service.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities have precluded his substantial and gainful employment since December 28, 2011. The Board finds that the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating have been met.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, but the issues regarding back disability, bursitis, and anemia are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The claims for right shoulder, right knee, and back disabilities have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.,The claim for bladder incontinence disability is being remanded as it does not involve service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding his back disorder and its onset during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 24, 2013. The Board found that the evidence did not stand in 'approximate balance' with the evidence supporting his claim.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine spondylosis, finding that the Veteran's back disorder had its onset during service. Service connection was denied for eczema due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the VA examiners' qualifications and a need for further examination. The Veteran's scoliosis is being evaluated, along with her degenerative disc disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine condition and a bilateral knee condition, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The Board also found that any current conditions are not secondary to his lower back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, neck, right knee, and left knee disorders due to inconsistencies in his reported injuries during military service.

The Veteran's initial ratings for lumbosacral strain and cervical spine strain were denied, as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations. The Veteran also had limitations in hip motion due to trochanteric pain syndrome, but these were rated separately.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is proximately due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and musculoskeletal conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no probative evidence demonstrating a nexus between his in-service occurrence and his current condition.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of entitlement to a compensable rating for service-connected left second finger digital nerve mononeuritis and nonlinear scar, as well as for bilateral pes planus, pseudofolliculitis, chronic bronchitis, chronic eye condition, sleep apnea, and lumbar spine degenerative joint disease.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral knee and lumbar spine disabilities.