Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for hip dysplasia, left and right (also claimed as impingement and legs) and a back condition due to lack of medical nexus.,New evidence submitted since the April 2011 rating decision did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims.

Your appeal has been dismissed because the Veteran withdrew his appeal before a decision was made.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, which was secondary to a kidney disorder and/or Gulf War Syndrome, has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted a 40 percent rating from December 1, 2015. The ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are also granted with specific percentages.

The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea was denied as the condition is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.,Ratings greater than 20 percent were denied for left and right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathies, left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathies, and thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD).,PTSD was also denied as not productive of total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back and neck disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating at any time during the appeal period.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and a neck disability, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began in service and have continued since then.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is granted a 20% rating effective September 1, 2004. The ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are denied.

The Veteran's right tibia fracture was granted a 20% rating. The Veteran's lumbar strain prior to August 18, 2022 received a 20% rating, but the appeal for higher ratings after that date is denied.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome as there was no evidence of a link to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a back condition due to insufficient medical evidence and an inadequate opinion regarding the relationship between his current condition and service.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for right leg/knee and lumbar spine disabilities, as the current conditions are not related to his active military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and neck disorders, as these conditions may be related to his service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis or right lower extremity edema. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further review.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected as it is related to his military noise exposure.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding its onset during service and post-service treatment history.,Service connection for rhinorrhea (rhinitis) is remanded due to the need for clarification on pre-service presence of the condition and in-service reports.,Service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability is remanded as there are conflicting opinions regarding its onset during service and post-service treatment history.,Service connection for right lower extremity sciatica is remanded due to conflicting opinions regarding its onset during service and post-service treatment history.,Service connection for left hip disability (gluteal muscle strain) is remanded due to the need for clarification on pre-service presence of the condition and in-service reports.,Service connection for left leg pain (muscle cramping) is remanded as there are conflicting opinions regarding its onset during service and post-service treatment history.,Service connection for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis is remanded due to conflicting opinions regarding its onset during service and post-service treatment history.

The Board has decided to remand the current issues on appeal due to incomplete requests for private medical records and a need to notify the Appellant of the incomplete VA Form 21-4142. The case will be returned to the Board after compliance with these actions.

The Board dismissed the appeals as to reopening service connection claims for various foot and leg disabilities due to the Veteran's death. No new evidence was received, and the claims were denied on their merits.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability, which is currently considered service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded for further development regarding his service-connected lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and obstructive sleep apnea. The extension of a temporary disability rating for left hallux valgus through July 31, 2011 is granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology and pathophysiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions. The claims are not granted as there is no current diagnosis or in-service incurrence of the claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome prior to June 17, 2022, and in excess of 40 percent from June 17, 2022 onward. The remand requires obtaining a new VA examination that includes retrospective estimates of the Veteran's lumbar spine range of motion for the period from May 31, 2013, onward.