Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar and thoracic spine conditions due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of adequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's low back disability had its clinical onset during service or is due to an incident or event of his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine arthritis on a presumptive basis due to an in-service low back injury, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of right knee injury, degenerative disc disease (claimed as cervical neck injury), and sleep apnea due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing VA examination and lack of a supplemental statement of the case. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for their back disability is now pending.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for Major Depressive Disorder and Degenerative Disc Disease were denied, as the medical evidence did not support a rating in excess of 50 percent and 10 percent respectively. The appeal for service connection for a Cervical Spine Disorder was also denied due to lack of current diagnosis.

The appeal seeking service connection for diarrhea is dismissed.,The appeal seeking service connection for vertigo is dismissed.,The appeal seeking service connection for a lower back disability is dismissed.,The appeal seeking service connection for sleep apnea is dismissed.,The appeal from that part of the July 2017 rating decision denying entitlement to SMC based on the need for aid and attendance or being housebound is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the cases of left wrist strain and low back disorder for further development due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted since August 18, 2022, as his service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right toe arthritis and PTTC disability is granted a 20 percent rating prior to December 29, 2020. The Veteran's back disability claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral foot and wrist disabilities, diabetes mellitus, hypertension (high blood pressure), sleep apnea, vision disability, limitation of flexion and extension of the knees, left knee pain, right knee pain, and lower back conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that they did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining missing VA and private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability is being reviewed, along with verification of any motor vehicle accident during service and an etiology opinion regarding his back disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability was dismissed. The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial rating of 70 percent prior to April 29, 2019 and denied a higher rating thereafter.

The Board has denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service. The medical evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's in-service injury and his current degenerative changes of the lower back.

The Veteran's service connection for hypertension, lumbar strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and post-operative gynecomastia was granted. The Veteran also received increased ratings for left hip limitation of extension and left thigh impairment. Other issues were remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his thoracolumbar spine disability and associated lumbar radiculopathy was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 20 percent for the period since November 22, 2019.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a low back condition, finding that the Veteran's additional disability was not caused by carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill on the part of VA.