Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to jurisdictional issues and requests for additional records related to the Veteran's low back disability, including those from the Veterans Choice Program. The claim will be adjudicated again under a direct theory of entitlement.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for lumbar spine DDD, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, right knee status-post ACL reconstruction, and right knee instability due to inadequate retrospective medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity, and bilateral foot disabilities due to a May 2013 InterStim trial study performed at the Houston VA Medical Center.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder and a thoracolumbar spine (low back) disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions were not related to his military service.,For the period prior to November 19, 2018, the criteria for higher disability ratings for left knee instability and limitation of motion were also denied.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease is remanded due to inadequate examination and the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings have been dismissed as the Veteran's authorized representative withdrew all issues on appeal in a July 2022 letter.

The Board has denied service connection for low back and sciatic nerve disorders as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions had their onset during or were related to active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and insufficient medical opinion linking his current degenerative disc disease to military service. The skin condition claim is remanded.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's claims of increased ratings for his service-connected low back strain and right knee patellar dislocation with chronic strain, as well as a rating in excess of 10 percent for limitation of right knee flexion. The remand includes obtaining new examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has withdrawn the issue of service connection for a back disability due to the Veteran's withdrawal. The issues of service connection for a respiratory disability and a compensable rating for hypertension are being remanded for further development.

The Board has granted a TDIU from September 27, 2011 to August 7, 2012 due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities making it impossible for him to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, a back disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been granted. The rating for the respiratory disability is being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and hypertension are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for lumbar degenerative arthritis, right hip condition, left hip condition, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The claims are being remanded to determine the current level of disability for hearing, address whether the lower back condition is related to service or proximately caused by hip conditions, and consider in-service use of NSAIDs for other conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability as secondary to his service-connected pes planus, finding that reasonable doubt should be resolved in favor of the claimant.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for cervical spine and low back conditions due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay assertions regarding his carrying heavy rucksacks during service.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability prevented him from obtaining and retaining gainful employment since December 15, 2013. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis effective December 15, 2013.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claim for a back disability, including DDD, and granted service connection for radiculopathy of both lower extremities as secondary to her back disability. The decision is based on new evidence submitted since the prior denial.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and TDIU. The decision found that there was no evidence of a current disability related to active service, and the VA examiner opined against a nexus between the Veteran's current sleep apnea and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board has granted the reopening of several claims, but denied others.