Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for ulcers and low back disorder, finding that the Veteran did not have these conditions during or within one year after his military service. The Board also found no evidence of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities due to incomplete examination reports and a need to consider the effects of medications on the Veteran's functioning.

The Board dismissed all issues of service connection and evaluation for various conditions due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the lumbar spine and bilateral hip disabilities, as well as their relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various hip and back conditions secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a cervical spine disability was denied. The increased rating claims for lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease were also denied, but the Veteran was granted TDIU status.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is rated at 40 percent since October 1, 2016. The Board found that the evidence does not indicate ankylosis or functional equivalent of ankylosis and denied associated neurological ratings.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for back disability, claimed as chronic low back pain due to insufficient evidence in the current record. The Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms during and after service are considered, but a VA examiner is needed to provide an opinion on whether the condition is related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including back disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, Parkinson's disease, sleep disorder, sinus disability, nocturia, altered gait, right ear growth, left knee strain, gynecomastia, inguinal hernia, priapism, bilateral pulmonary embolism, parotid neoplasms, and hepatitis C have been denied. The Board found no evidence of service connection or secondary service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine disability and associated right lower extremity radiculopathy due to outstanding private treatment records not being obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to address service connection and rating issues related to COPD, low back disorder, left knee strain, and left knee instability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability has been reopened, but the Board has decided to remand it due to insufficient evidence. The case will be reviewed again with an additional examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service. The effective date of this decision is not specified.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and degenerative changes, finding that the condition originated during active service.

The Board dismissed the issue of service connection for headaches as moot due to a December 2018 rating decision granting service connection with an effective date of July 10, 2017. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination addressing the Veteran's statements and 1976 records. Another VA examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, low back disability, left knee tendonitis, and traumatic arthritis of bilateral big toes due to incomplete examination reports and lack of range of motion testing.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's knee, back, ankle sprain, cluster headaches, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities. The examinations will help determine if the Veteran's service-connected conditions have worsened since his last evaluations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss due to failure of the Veteran to report for scheduled VA examinations. The issues are now pending before the Board.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and medical opinions are not adequate, necessitating further clarification of the medical evidence regarding the etiology and pathophysiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.