Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions on service connection for a low back disability. The Veteran seeks direct and secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for higher ratings for costochondritis and lumbar spine disability due to potential interference with employment. The Veteran's absences from work and leave taken under FMLA have been noted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ear disorder, right leg disability, left leg disability, and low back disability have been granted. The claim for service connection for a right foot disorder and left foot disorder is being remanded.,The Veteran's request to withdraw his claim of service connection for a right ear disorder has been granted.

The Board has found that VA examinations are necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for esophageal stricture and stenosis, scoliosis with degenerative joint disease and spinal stenosis (back disability), and inflammation of meniscus of the left knee. The Board also finds a remand is necessary to obtain the Veteran's Social Security Administration records.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a VA examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left eye disorder, including as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection or secondary service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right ankle disability and granted service connection for left knee and low back disabilities as secondary to his service-connected left ankle sprain. The remaining issues are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's reports of intermittent low back pain since service.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and chronic kidney disease. Bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was reopened, and he is now service-connected for lumbosacral strain, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left hip condition, and right hip condition. His increased rating claims were denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's low back disability, including lack of service treatment records and a need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining missing private treatment records and a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine strain and radiculopathy.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for low back, bilateral ankle, and bilateral foot disabilities. However, these claims are still being remanded as new opinions are needed to determine if there is a relationship between his current conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities, as well as his lumbosacral strain. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for these conditions are now pending before VA.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of various spinal and extremity disabilities due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connected due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The issues of reopening and granting service connection for tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, lumbar spine disability, asthma, and sinus disability are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU from November 1, 2014 to March 2, 2016 is dismissed as moot because he is already receiving a combined 100% disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to be of such nature and severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since January 28, 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and chronic urticaria. The lumbar spine disability was rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The chronic urticaria prior to July 30, 2020, was also rated at 30 percent.