Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed disabilities of the cervical spine, left and right shoulders, and knees as secondary to his service-connected foot and ankle disabilities due to lack of a causal relationship.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a lower back disability and depression, as well as secondary service connection for depression related to a lower back disability.,New evidence received since previous decisions raises reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran's low back disability has worsened, and a new examination is needed to assess the current severity of his service-connected condition. Additionally, there are conflicting reports regarding ankylosis, which requires clarification.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and clarification of the medical opinion from September 2020.

The Board has found that remand is required for the Veteran's PTSD and lumbar spine sprain claims due to lack of recent VA treatment records and inadequate examinations. The Veteran will need to provide authorization for private medical records, and he will be scheduled for new VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions regarding the aggravation of the Veteran's disabilities by his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, but the issues of entitlement to service connection for various disabilities have been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions addressing potential in-service causation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and proceedings, including obtaining a retrospective medical opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability during specific time periods.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining updated medical records and providing VA examinations to address the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her low back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as service connection for a bilateral hip disability.

The Board has ordered remand for additional examinations to address the Veteran's left shoulder, right hip, and lumbar spine disabilities. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 50 percent, costochondritis with thoracolumbar lumbar strain at 40 percent, cervical spine degenerative disc disease at 30 percent, left upper extremity radiculopathy at 20 percent, and migraines at 10 percent. All other claims are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right leg disability, an increased evaluation for left knee strain with degenerative disc disease and limitation of flexion, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The issues are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's applications to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for back, right knee, and left knee disorders. The cases are now remanded for further appellate review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain with multilevel degenerative disc disease prior to June 17, 2019 and from June 17, 2019 on. The issues are now pending before the Board.

The appellant withdrew his appeal regarding the effective date for service connection of lumbothoracic strain, wedge compression fracture of the thoracic spine, lumbar spondylosis, and degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI was granted an initial rating of 70 percent prior to September 4, 2020. A separate 10 percent rating for TBI residuals was also granted. The Veteran's PTSD with TBI is now rated as higher than 50 percent after September 4, 2020. Other issues related to service connection were remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for thoracolumbar strain (back disability) due to inadequate examination and failure to consider functional loss during flare-ups.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent effective April 14, 2022. Bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is also rated at 20 percent effective April 14, 2022.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral ankle disability, an upper back disability, and a neck disability due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran is already service connected for radiculopathy related to degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, but he contends that his current disabilities are secondary or aggravated by this condition.

The Board has remanded the cases due to additional VA treatment records being associated with the claims file after a previous SSOC was issued.