Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's lower back condition is related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has denied service connection for heart disease and remanded the issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for degenerative disk disease of the lumbar spine, and entitlement to service connection for a nerve disability.

The Veteran's low back strain is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.,Service connection for sleep apnea is granted on the basis that it was initially manifested during active service and aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. Headaches are also granted on this basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to his in-service complaints and treatment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition has been reopened, and the evidence is sufficient to establish a current disability. However, there is no evidence of a current COPD diagnosis.,Service connection for COPD was denied as there is no evidence of a current respiratory disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability, finding that his right foot injury aggravated his pre-existing back condition.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a back disability, hypertension, and bilateral hand numbness due to unresolved matters related to the character of discharge from the appellant's second period of service. The Board also ordered further development regarding the Office of Inspector General reports.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar muscle strain has been rated at 10 percent since January 16, 2014. The Board found that the disability does not warrant a higher rating during this period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, sleep apnea, headaches, and hypertension due to lack of medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine, back surgery scars, and neck disability claims require additional examinations to determine their severity and etiology. The cases are being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, hypertension, and entitlement to TDIU due to additional development being necessary.

The Veteran's initial ratings for left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome, migraine headaches, and spondylosis with thoracic and lumbosacral spine strain (back disability) have been denied. The appeal is now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 60 percent for his left knee injury, post/operative knee replacement is dismissed. Service connection claims for bilateral foot disorder, low back disorder, and right knee disorder are denied as the evidence does not support direct service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, lumbar disc herniation and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with chondromalacia and meniscus tear, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with meniscus tear post-operative, and radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete record development and need for additional medical opinions. The issues include psychiatric disorders, migraine headaches, muscle spasms of the back and legs (separate from lumbar spine disability), neck disorder, and right ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors in prior decisions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for lumbar spine and left ankle disabilities, finding that the earliest possible effective dates have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's timely substantive appeals were received in response to the March 18, 2019 Statements of the Case. As a result, the appeal is granted for all issues listed.