Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for a back disability, hypertension, and a compensable rating for fractures to his fingers before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has reopened the claims for right shoulder, left shoulder, kidney disability (secondary to herbicide exposure), low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension. However, service connection was not granted for any of these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's additional cardiovascular, esophageal, pulmonary, and lumbar spine disorders are not due to VA negligence or fault during treatment for lung cancer.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for non-scarring residuals resulting from an umbilical hernia repair, patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee, chondromalacia of the patella of the right knee, and instability of the left knee. The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee, and instability of the right knee are also remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of her appeals.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer, lumbar spine disability, urinary incontinence, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as they were not related to the Veteran's active duty service. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents was not verified, and there is no evidence of his presence in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, a back condition, and residuals of Chiari malformation due to incomplete development. The Veteran's subjective experience in service is considered sufficient for diagnoses of PTSD and unspecified bipolar disorder.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, shortness of breath, headaches, and shoulder, neck, lumbar spine, and leg disabilities, should be remanded due to lack of reliable audiometric testing results and need for further examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety), right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder due to inadequate explanation of why presumptive service connection is not granted.

The Board has remanded the claims of increased ratings for lumbar spine disability, right and left knee disabilities, and associated radiculopathy due to inadequate examination findings and unclear onset dates.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Board denied a higher rating as his condition does not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to September 9, 2015.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's low back disability may be related to his active service, but needs further evidence before a decision can be made.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his back disability was denied because he failed to report for a necessary VA examination without good cause.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of lumbosacral strain and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion and requests for additional VA records. The claim will be reconsidered after these actions.

The appeal of the denial of service connection for a low back disability is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spondylosis, right and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and femoral radiculopathy have been evaluated based on their respective diagnostic codes. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.