Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and lumbar spine disability, are being remanded for further evaluation due to recent increases in severity since the last VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to insufficient rationale in previous VA opinions. The Veteran's cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disabilities are related to motor vehicle accidents since service, but not directly to an in-service incident. The chronic sinus condition is related to a May 2020 diagnosis, which may be outside the period of active service. The left lower extremity nerve condition and left foot condition are linked to a lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of double hernia, lumbago with L5-S1, herniated nucleus pulposus (claimed as a back condition), and history of varicocele, left.,There is no evidence in the record to support that any of these conditions began during or are otherwise related to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability and bilateral hearing loss are not service-connected. The PTSD claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disability, left hip disability, and low back disability due to inadequate medical opinions regarding secondary service connection.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 60 percent for the Veteran's back disability and remanded the pseudofolliculitis claim. The decision is final with respect to these issues.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions to address whether the Veteran's sleep apnea and lumbar spine disorders are related to his military service, particularly as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA disability evaluation criteria.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection due to inadequate prior examinations. The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability, which was previously denied in January 2021. He also seeks service connection for left hip osteoarthritis with trochanteric bursitis.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's back disability is service-connected. The claims for right knee, left knee, and neck disabilities are remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to outstanding medical records that need to be obtained. The Veteran is also scheduled for a VA examination to determine if his current back disability is related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for degenerative joint disease, lumbar strain; bilateral pes planus; and skin condition/rash. The issues of service connection are related to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient consideration of relevant evidence, including statements from fellow servicemembers and a Veteran's own statements about his symptoms during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a right hip condition, finding that his pre-existing conditions were not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected sleep apnea, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, left lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, and right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy have been granted. The Veteran also received a TDIU determination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbosacral or cervical spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, right wrist disorder, and right ankle disorder due to secondary service-connected right knee disability. The case is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's low back injury with recurrent mechanical lumbosacral strain, left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy were all denied increased ratings. The rating for the right lower extremity sciatic radulopathy was granted beginning on July 14, 2021.

The Board has remanded the service connection and SMC claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's low back disorder and her service-connected anemia.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability caused bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, which resulted in a separate rating. The Veteran also received an increased rating for his degenerative changes, thoracolumbar spine since July 19, 2021.,The Veteran was granted a TDIU based on the combined effect of multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection due to potential missing VA treatment records and other factors.