Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and reopening of claims have been withdrawn. The Board has also remanded the issues regarding obstructive sleep apnea, whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the previously denied service connection claim for a bilateral knee disorder, and whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the previously denied service connection claim for a back disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but denied service connection for low back disability.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, cervical degenerative disc disease, and the cause of death due to esophageal adenocarcinoma. The claim for VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's obesity and her claimed disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his death.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for secondary service connection for left knee disability and lumbar spine disability to his service-connected bilateral flat feet with osteoarthritis and tarsal tunnel syndrome. The claim for hiatal hernia, prostate disability, and fibromyalgia remains pending as they are not currently supported by evidence of a direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development and examination, including a VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral sprain with degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bone pain, including as due to bone density loss related to osteoporosis and osteopenia or related to arthritis and degenerative disc disease. The VA examiners concluded that these conditions did not clearly pre-exist service, were not incurred in service, and are not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 20 percent, and her bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is also rated at 20 percent each.,The Veteran's claim for increased rating for the back disability was denied.

The Veteran's spouse, C.K., was added to his VA disability compensation award effective January 13, 2014. The decision grants the earlier effective date request.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of a kidney infection is granted. The initial rating for lumbar spine disability remains at 20 percent, and the ratings for right and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathies are also maintained.

The reduction of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability evaluation from 20 percent to 10 percent was improper, and the prior rating is restored. The Veteran's headaches are remanded for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disability and neck disability, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation after May 22, 2019. The case is remanded for further consideration of the TDIU claim prior to that date.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for service connection of upper back and right knee disorders, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete examination and inextricably intertwined issues.

The Veteran's death was not due to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with associated radiculopathy.,The cause of the Veteran's death (chronic respiratory failure, acute on chronic diastolic heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and cirrhosis) is not considered to be related to his active service.

The claims for service connection for various conditions, including right and left knee conditions, acquired psychiatric disorder, skin condition, eye condition, and back condition have been denied. The claim for a stinging sensation in the left elbow has also been denied.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to missing service treatment records and insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and right hip disabilities due to new evidence received since the July 2011 rating decision. The claims are now remanded for additional development.