Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right sciatic radiculopathy, left sciatic radiculopathy, and lumbosacral strain due to new evidence received since the last prior adjudication.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and granted.,Service connection is also granted for tinnitus. The Board notes that the claims for left knee condition and back condition are being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including obesity resulting from his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, diagnosed as lumbar disc disease, is related to service.,There is insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran's right eye disability is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for ankylosing spondylitis of the lumbar spine was denied. The Board found that the disability did not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to February 11, 2020 and 40 percent thereafter.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's back disability prior to December 20, 2019. The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for his thoracolumbar strain (back disability) during this period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and neck condition secondary to hearing loss and vestibular disorder due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding the relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic back condition during or after service and that any current condition is not related to his service-connected Meniere's disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions.,The Board is requesting further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension, lumbar spine disability, right foot/ankle disability, obstructive sleep apnea, right shoulder condition, and left shoulder condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back, left knee, left hip, and right hip disabilities as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability due to insufficient medical opinions addressing aggravation.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for a left knee disability and has remanded the issues of service connection for right knee, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities. The Veteran's claims are pending.

The Veteran's right knee condition is aggravated by his service-connected left knee degenerative arthritis and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, thus meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder and whether obesity served as an intermediate step between his service-connected major depressive disorder or right knee disability and his low back condition.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy should be remanded due to a lack of in-person examinations. The VA is instructed to attempt to obtain these examinations from the correctional facility where the Veteran is incarcerated.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, arthritis of the left hip, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity due to incomplete records. The VA is required to obtain any outstanding pertinent VA treatment records and private treatment records related to the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, spondylosis and discogenic disease, as well as right lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to these conditions. The decision is based on evidence showing that the Veteran's preexisting scoliosis was aggravated by active service and progressed to his current back disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and evaluation due to the need for clarification on the nature of his low back, right wrist, left hand/index finger conditions, as well as a possible aggravation by service-connected left shoulder disability. The Veteran also needs an updated VA examination regarding his left hip sprain and migraine headaches.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including GERD, left knee condition, right hip strain, thoracolumbar spine, gastric ulcer/gastritis, left talus non-displaced fracture, right ankle tendonitis, and cervical spine degenerative arthritis. The decision also includes a request for new VA examinations for these conditions.

The Veteran's increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and right lower extremity piriformis syndrome from April 29, 2016 to June 4, 2017 are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar strain, headaches (claimed as PTSD), and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and insufficient examination reports. The claims will be reviewed again with additional evidence and examinations.