Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and temporary total evaluation due to hospital treatment or convalescence for his lumbar spine disorder. The claims are being returned for further development, including a new VA examination.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for back and left knee disabilities due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.,Service connection is granted for a back disability, but the claim for left knee disability remains remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a bilateral knee condition, including as a result of undiagnosed illness; service connection for a disability manifested by joint pain, claimed as polyarthritis, including as the result of undiagnosed illness; and service connection for a low back disorder due to unresolved issues related to medical opinions and whether these conditions qualify as MUCMI.

The Board has denied an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and has remanded the issue of entitlement to compensation for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disability.

The Board has denied service connection for atrophy of the testicles and remanded issues regarding neck and back conditions due to lack of medical evidence addressing their etiology.

The Veteran's attorney has withdrawn the appeal for service connection claims and a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with MDD prior to June 7, 2017. The appeals are dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, service connection for left knee and right shoulder disorders, and HTN have been denied. The appeals are dismissed as the submitted evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional evidentiary development, including obtaining outstanding relevant records and scheduling a retrospective VA examination of her lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's initial increased rating claim for his service-connected back disability is denied. The case has been remanded to obtain further information regarding the Veteran's employment status and circumstances prior to August 1, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 70 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder, as well as claims for service connection for left knee disorder and low back strain, have been granted. The claim for residuals of traumatic brain injury was denied.

The Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome with spondylolisthesis of lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent, and the left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with it is rated at 20 percent. The appeal for a higher rating for intervertebral disc syndrome with spondylolisthesis of lumbar spine has been denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's spinal disabilities, including degenerative arthritis, IVDS, and spinal stenosis. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if his current conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to obtain medical opinions on whether the Veteran's lumbar spine and left knee conditions are aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected lumbar strain and left ankle sprain, as well as a TDIU claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's back disability is related to service. The VA examiner did not consider the Veteran's lay statements of in-service injury and intermittent pain since then.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to inadequate development and need further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's lower back disability is granted a 20% rating for the period before November 14, 2018. For the period beginning November 14, 2018, a higher rating is denied. The left knee disability is granted a 20% rating for the period before November 14, 2018 and a higher rating is denied for the period beginning November 14, 2018.

The Board has determined that the VA opinions provided were not in substantial compliance with the September 2022 Remand directives and have ordered new VA opinions to be obtained. The claims for lumbar spine disability, right-hand disability, and migraine headaches are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to new evidence obtained by VA, including VA treatment records. The Veteran's back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder are being reviewed again as there is insufficient medical opinion regarding their relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's service dates in the Army Reserve and for a new VA examination to determine if his chronic low back pain is related to his military service.