Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and hypertension, but denied service connection for a left knee disorder. The Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder is considered to be related to his military service, while the hypertension is not. The left knee disorder was not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a left ring finger disorder and low back disability due to insufficient medical opinions in the original decision. The VA is required to provide additional examination or opinion to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of anemia, erectile dysfunction, and compensable rating for surgical scars were granted. The reduction in ratings for lumbar radiculopathy was found to be improper and restored.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to obtain the Veteran's Vocational Rehabilitation folder, including records relating to his October 2016 VA Vocational Rehabilitation plan.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities in the knees, shoulders, or BTM, nor any nexus to service.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and diverticulitis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.,There is no evidence of a chronic lumbar spine or diverticulitis condition during service, and any post-service complaints do not establish continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated as 30 percent prior to March 15, 2010 and as 60 percent from March 15, 2010 to August 9, 2015. The low back disability is rated as 40 percent as of October 21, 2020. A separate rating of 20 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted as of October 21, 2020.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, and bilateral lower extremity sciatica due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred during active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for GERD, service connection for a back disorder, and service connection for bilateral knee disorders were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for low back disability, heart disability, PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss due to lack of a VA examination and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and needs further examination. The Veteran's low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and gastrointestinal disorder are all under review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a spinal tap, neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to residuals of a spinal tap, low back disability as secondary to residuals of a spinal tap, and cysts as secondary to residuals of a spinal tap due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus has been granted. The claims for service connection for a low back disorder, nerve damage of the tongue, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, anxiety, major depressive disorder, and agoraphobia with panic attacks), and obstructive sleep apnea are being remanded.

The Veteran's pericarditis was granted a 60 percent evaluation as of August 5, 2011.,For the lumbar condition, the Veteran received a 20 percent rating effective April 28, 2015. The claim for an increased rating prior to this date is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for a back disability prior to June 2, 2016 and an effective date prior to January 12, 2016 for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. Additional development is needed.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, a cardiac disorder, and a low back disability due to inadequate medical opinions.,Further development is needed to address the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's headaches, cervical spine disability, and lumbosacral spine disability are found to be related to service. The depression is not considered secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus and right ankle disability are granted service connection. Service connection for a bilateral knee disability is denied, but the Veteran's back disability is remanded for further examination.