Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disorder, finding that his pre-existing neck disorder was not aggravated by service and is not related to his service-connected left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 10 percent prior to March 28, 2022 and 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran's left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are each rated at 10 percent.,The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome and right knee patellofemoral syndrome are both currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea was proximately caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability and/or radiculopathy of the right and left extremities, as well as whether his obesity was a substantial factor in causing the condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA has been granted, and he is also granted increased ratings for his TMJ dysfunction, cervical strain, left shoulder impingement syndrome, and lumbar spine strain.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss but has remanded the issue of service connection for a low back condition due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete examination findings and requests for additional records. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, but he asserts a need for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions provided in previous examinations. The case is now returned to the Board for further consideration.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum medical opinion clarifying the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability and addressing whether it is related to his first period of active duty service or if it was aggravated during his second period of service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequacies in medical opinions and missing records. The Veteran's current lumbar spine disability with radiculopathy is being requested to be examined again to determine if it was incurred as a result of a fall from a horse in service in 1982.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of evidence and further development is needed. The Veteran's lay statements suggest a possible secondary relationship between his service-connected left knee condition and his current lumbosacral strain and sciatica.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and a cervical spine condition secondary to her low back injury due to failure to appear for VA examinations. The Veteran is advised that she must report for these examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his severe back pain and PTSD, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The petition to reopen entitlement to service connection for a left ankle condition and a back condition is granted.,Entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee conditions, hearing loss, social anxiety disorder, right and left ankle conditions, a back condition, a bilateral lower extremity vascular condition, and tinnitus is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to incomplete examination reports and need for further medical evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches has been granted, but the appeal regarding service connection for a low back disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 23, 2018.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, back disability (to include degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine), left knee disability, right knee disability, and bilateral pes planus have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals.

The Veteran's knee and shoulder disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for updated VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is not service-connected as it did not manifest during his active duty or any period of ACDUTRA/INACDUTRA. The evidence does not support a finding that the current condition is related to an in-service injury.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for additional examinations and opinions. Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but other claims remain pending.