Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded multiple issues for further development, including service connection claims for various conditions such as diabetes, sleep apnea, heart disease, and foot disabilities. The Veteran's STRs are unavailable, which may affect the adjudication of these claims.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his claims, granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD with other specified depressive disorder, but denied an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD.

Bell's palsy with right eye ptosis and sleep apnea service connection claims have been granted.,Bilateral hearing loss and hyperlipidemia service connection claims have not met the criteria for reopening.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder due to incomplete compliance with previous remand instructions. The case is now pending for further development and medical opinion.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted from August 11, 2016 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and maintaining gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and panic/anxiety disorder), a low back disability, a left knee disability, a left shoulder/arm disability, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is being remanded for further evaluation due to inadequate medical opinion and consideration of all evidence, including his National Guard service.

The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 20 percent from June 25, 2011 to December 18, 2019 and at 40 percent after December 18, 2019. The Board has remanded the case for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating greater than 10 percent prior to March 27, 2019, for her back disability (lumbar strain and degenerative arthritis) is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The claim for right ear hearing loss remains denied.

The Veteran's petition to reopen her claim of service connection for sleep apnea was denied. The Board found that the May 2014 decision denying this claim is final, and new and material evidence has not been submitted.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability, headaches, insomnia, and obesity were also denied as there was no established link to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, disc disease, and sciatica, is service-connected. The evidence supports a finding that this condition likely began during his military service.

The Veteran's claim to reopen a neck disability service connection is granted. The Board finds the evidence sufficient to raise a reasonable possibility of establishing the claim, but remands for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and lack of examination in some cases. The claims are now pending for further review.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back and left foot or ankle disabilities. The claims are also remanded for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a rating of 40 percent for coccydynia with lumbosacral arthritis is granted, effective from January 19, 2014 to June 9, 2022. The issue of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for an earlier effective date for tinnitus and service connection for a back disability, so the Board has dismissed these issues.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy from August 4, 2020 is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy from February 12, 2010 is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for low back strain with spondylolisthesis and degenerative disc disease, L5-S1 is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, diagnosed as lumbosacral strain, is related to his active service and granted service connection for this condition.