Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine and remanded the issue of service connection for Bilateral Hearing Loss Disability.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with its June 2020 remand directives and requires another remand to afford the Veteran a new VA examination and to procure new nexus opinions supported by a thorough, well-reasoned rationale.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for a back disability and a right knee disability due to inadequate medical opinions in the original decision. Additional development is needed, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from an appropriate medical professional.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine is rated at 20 percent prior to September 22, 2015, and denied for a higher rating thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to various joints and pain conditions, but the Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if any of these conditions are service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a right knee disability. The issue of entitlement to an increased rating for PTSD is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. The Board also found no continuity of symptomatology or causal relationship between the Veteran's current disability and his military service.

The Board has dismissed all claims, including service connection and increased evaluations for various conditions, due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board found that it does not warrant a higher rating based on his limited range of motion and lack of incapacitating episodes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a back disability due to insufficient consideration of his contention that he injured his back during service and an incomplete development of his private treatment records.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are currently rated at the maximum allowed under VA guidelines. The Board has remanded these issues for further development.

The Veteran's lower back disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted increased ratings since August 1, 2016. The lower back disability is rated at 40 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient reasons and bases for denying an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for ankylosing spondylitis of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's reports of flare-ups, inability to walk more than a quarter mile, and significant limitations on daily activities are not addressed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, bilateral foot disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence and unavailability of records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability will be reviewed again.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right knee disability, left knee disability, sinusitis, and low back disability due to new evidence received since the final September 2004 rating decision. The claims are currently under review.

The Board has remanded the claims for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current right knee and ankle conditions are related to service, as well as whether any existing low back condition is related to service. The examiner will also address whether these conditions are secondary to other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right shoulder, thoracolumbar spine, tailbone, and headaches disabilities due to additional development being necessary. This includes obtaining VA examinations and reviewing private medical records.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding no evidence of in-service injury or continuity of symptomatology.