Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, lumbar strain, cervical spine arthritis, anxiety, and left ankle disability have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities. The VA will conduct examinations and provide medical opinions on whether these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle disability, lumbar spine disability, skin disorder, and tuberculosis (TB) were not shown as chronic in service or within the applicable presumptive period. Continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disabilities are not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,Peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity (PN RUE), left upper extremity (PN LUE), and bilateral lower extremities (PN BLE) were manifested with moderate incomplete paralysis of the median nerve, sciatic nerve, respectively.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain myositis is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the current evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine is granted as his condition was incurred in service and there is no evidence of any other basis for the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the reliability of a previous VA opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability. The case is now being sent back for further examination and evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting lumbar spine disorder was aggravated by active military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar degenerative arthritis began during service and has continued since then, finding it at least as likely as not related to his military service. As such, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete compliance with previous remands and a need for further medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's low back disability and his service-connected seizure disorder.

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

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to asbestos exposure, diabetes mellitus type II, low back disorder, hypertension, vision loss, and sore throat. The Veteran is required to provide VA with release forms to obtain his private treatment records from relevant providers.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds no higher rating is warranted. The evidence does not show that his range of motion or other symptoms warrant a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disability and service-connected headaches due to conflicting evidence in the record regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder condition and a lumbosacral and thoracic sprain due to inadequate examinations in July 2017. The Veteran is required to undergo new examinations to determine if his current diagnoses are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to in-service falls and granting reopening of the issue of service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity are evaluated at 10% prior to January 21, 2020, and 20% beginning from that date. The Veteran is denied an evaluation in excess of these ratings.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40% prior to April 25, 2016 and remains at that rating.

The Veteran's service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome with lumbosacral degenerative arthritis and strain is currently rated at 40 percent from April 28, 2021. The Board has determined that the current ratings are less than the maximum available ratings and remands the case for further development to determine appropriate disability ratings.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities. Service connection is now established for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inaccuracies in the record, including incorrect identification of the Veteran's service period and an inadequate medical opinion. The RO is instructed to correct these issues and obtain additional records.