Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, as well as left knee disability, due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's right knee disability is already service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of various disabilities, including a right shoulder disability, bilateral pes planus, TBI, and other conditions were denied as the Veteran failed to appear at scheduled VA examinations.,Service connection claims for back disability, left foot disability, right elbow disability, and chest pain were also denied due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a back disability, left hip disability (secondary to back), depression, and loss of teeth have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of nexus between these conditions and active duty service.,There is no credible evidence linking any current disabilities to service.

The Board denied service connection for left hip, back, left groin, and left foot disabilities due to a lack of current disability at the time of filing or during the pendency of the appeal.,The Veteran's complaints related to these conditions were noted in service but resolved without any residual symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, but denied service connection for a back disability. The decision is based on the evidence showing that the Veteran's OSA began during or was caused by his active service, while there is no credible evidence to support his claim of a back injury during service.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of bilateral lower extremities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the failure of VA to obtain his complete service treatment records and VA treatment records. The Board also directed a VA examination for each issue.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence, including range of motion testing in both active and passive motion and in weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing.

The Veteran's claim for higher initial ratings for his thoracolumbar spine DDD, RLE radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and LLE radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve was denied. The increased rating for RLE radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve as of December 15, 2020, and separate ratings for RLE radiculopathy of the femoral nerve and LLE radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve were granted.

The Veteran's appeal of the initial ratings assigned for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities and lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to inadequate examination reports.,The Veteran's appeal of the initial rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy, PTSD, TDIU prior to September 28, 2021, and SMC at the housebound rate under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) is also being remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of hypertension and back disability for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a left big toe disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran reported injuries during active duty, but VA records do not support these accounts.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been remanded by the Board.,The Veteran is also facing a TDIU claim, which has been remanded as well.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in March 2018 are insufficient for adjudicating the service connection claims. The Veteran's current disabilities are associated with his active duty, and further examination is needed to determine if any of these conditions clearly and unmistakably pre-existed his service or were aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted as service connected.,The Veteran's hearing loss claim is denied.,The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right and left ankle disorders, right and left knee disorders, low back disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities meeting VA's regulatory definition of a hearing loss disability or any other qualifying chronic disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine condition is related to his service-connected left knee disability. A VA examination is needed to determine if there is a link between the Veteran's back pain and his knee impairment.

The Veteran's chronic lumbosacral strain was granted a 40 percent disability rating, effective February 16, 2015.,Prior to October 19, 2021, the Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy was granted a 20 percent disability rating. From October 19, 2021, his bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies were denied increased ratings.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, as the evidence did not show any chronic in-service injury or disease related to the Veteran's current condition. The Board also denied temporary total ratings and TDIU based on his back disability.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of his lumbar disc disease with degenerative changes at L4-L5 is remanded, and the cervical spine issue remains on appeal.