Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, migraines, right elbow condition, lower back condition, and right knee condition due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The VA will need to provide additional examinations and obtain further medical opinions.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeals for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and a TDIU, which were previously pending at the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The appeal is dismissed as a result.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities and instability require separate evaluations from February 1, 2010. The low back disability is also remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation during the period from June 2, 2008 to July 26, 2021. The Board granted a TDIU for this period.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder, but denied service connection for cervical spine and low back conditions. The claims of service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) and hypertension are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for mechanical low back pain, an upper back disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew all his pending claims, including the claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to follow substantially gainful employment consistent with his education, training, and work experience.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for cervical strain based on the receipt of new and material evidence is granted. The issues of service connection for PTSD, left carpal tunnel syndrome, right carpal tunnel syndrome, hemorrhoids, right hallux valgus, left hallux valgus, lumbar disc disease and strain, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, right knee tendonitis, and generalized anxiety disorder are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, including as secondary to PTSD, a back disability, and/or right lower extremity radiculopathy. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee disability, left knee disability, and low back disability are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection. The VA is instructed to obtain authorization and request relevant private treatment records from the Veteran's former employment with the Bureau of Prisons and his current primary physician. Additionally, the Veteran should be scheduled for a VA examination to identify any current disabilities and determine if they are related to his military service or his service-connected left hip tendonitis and left thigh limitations.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was not manifested by forward flexion to 30 degrees or less, and thus the claim for an increased rating prior to November 25, 2020, is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examinations and a need for a retrospective medical opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability prior to July 28, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings for a headache disorder and PTSD have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection or entitlement to higher ratings.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain updated medical records and schedule the Veteran for an examination to determine if his low back disorder is related to service.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding no evidence of a relationship between the Veteran's in-service injury and his current condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have not been fully developed and requires additional development before a final decision can be made.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and a disability rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease due to inadequate examinations in previous decisions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent for the period on appeal, effective from when his forward flexion was limited to 15 degrees.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability, low back disability, and sleep apnea. The Board found no current diagnosis of these conditions in the record.