Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back condition, left lower extremity sciatica, and right lower extremity sciatica due to potential errors in the decision-making process and incomplete medical records. The Veteran's statements regarding his symptoms are credible, but further evidence is needed to establish whether his current conditions are related to his active service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral arthritic foot condition, lumbar spine condition, hypertension, and bilateral sciatica as the evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease that caused these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is rated at 40 percent, but no higher, as it has resulted in functional favorable ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for a low back disability due to inadequate medical examination and failure to conduct all required range of motion testing.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for service connection of TBI, posttraumatic headaches as secondary to TBI, PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims for back condition and hypertension are remanded due to procedural errors.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee replacements and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise that his service-connected conditions prevent him from obtaining and maintaining such employment.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for service connection of degenerative disc disease with spinal stenosis and left lower extremity radiculopathy, both dating back to July 14, 2015. The claim for a compensable evaluation for the Veteran's lumbar scar is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and his military service.,The Board also denied secondary service connection for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy because it is not related to any service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart disability. The cases of lumbar spine and Type II diabetes mellitus are remanded due to procedural errors.

Service connection for a low back disorder is granted, and an increased rating of 70% for PTSD from December 17, 2013 to April 18, 2018 is also granted.,The Veteran's low back disorder is presumed service-connected due to symptoms being continuous since service separation.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of limitation of motion sufficient for a higher rating.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds no evidence supporting a higher rating based on current functional limitations.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and other procedural issues. The Veteran's service-connected low back strain with spondylosis, as well as his radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, need further evaluation.

The Veteran's skin cancer and low back disability were not found to be service-connected. The Board determined that the Veteran did not have a current disability related to his active service, or any incident therein.

The Board has granted service connection for a hand rash and an upper back disability, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the cases of the Veteran's right hand/wrist condition, left ankle condition, and low back condition due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology during service.

The Board denied service connection for left knee strain, back disability, right and left ankle strains/sprains, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, MDD, anxiety) due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between the current conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various hip, knee, ankle, and back disabilities due to incomplete compliance with previous remand orders. The case must be returned for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis resulted in pain on manipulation and use of the feet from January 28, 2011 to June 23, 2018. The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for this period.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a low back condition is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for peripheral neuropathy, left hip and knee disabilities, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and prostate hypertrophy due to additional development being necessary. Specifically, the AOJ must obtain all outstanding medical records from University Medical Associates.