Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back, neck, and bilateral lower extremity nerve disabilities have been dismissed as they were granted in a previous rating decision. The claims for service connection for brain tumor, epilepsy, asthma, and sleep apnea have all been denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for left lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, to include as secondary to lumbar strain should be remanded due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot plantar fasciitis, low back disability, right knee disability, and right ankle disability due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected low back strain and its relationship to his current diagnoses. The issues of increased rating for recurrent low back strain and service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy are being returned to VA for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a bilateral eye condition, lumbar spine disability, and headaches due to insufficient medical opinions. Additional development is needed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability and remanded it for further development.

The Veteran's initial back disability rating is granted at a 40% level, effective from December 11, 2013.,An initial 20% rating for the right ankle disability is granted, effective June 24, 2022.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and obstructive sleep apnea, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease. The Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his active service.,For the right wrist disability, the Board found that there is no ankylosis, but granted a 10% rating effective June 28, 2017.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and hypertension due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran is also seeking TDIU based on these disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability as there is no current diagnosis of such condition and no evidence of functional impairment.

The Veteran's chronic lumbar spine, cervical spine, left elbow, and left ankle disabilities are found to be due to his honorable service. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran meets the schedular requirement for TDIU due to his service-connected COPD, which renders him unable to follow a substantially gainful occupation. The decision is granted from May 29, 2011.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service and aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee and right foot disabilities. The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and disability ratings due to incomplete development of records, including VA treatment records. The Veteran is also being remanded for a determination on his claim for TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are inextricably intertwined with his TDIU claim, earlier effective date claim, and need for VA examinations. The issues must be remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of higher ratings for her neck, low back, and migraine disabilities. The Veteran will need to provide any evidence in support of her claims, and she will be scheduled for new VA examinations to determine the current severity of her symptoms, including a discussion of the ameliorative impacts of her prescribed medications.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions and records. The issues of entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of a right sural nerve biopsy, service connection for a lower back disability, and service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities are all remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar arthritis was granted a rating of 40 percent prior to November 8, 2022.,A higher rating for the lumbar arthritis is denied since November 8, 2022.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is related to service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating higher than 20 percent for a low back disability was denied. The Board also remanded the matter of whether he should be granted a TDIU prior to November 2, 2021.