Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's obesity caused or aggravated his service-connected pes planus and whether this was a substantial factor in causing his lumbar degenerative disc disease.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions and additional evidence, including SSA records.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA orthopedic spine specialist/surgeon to assess the Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease. The TDIU issue is also inextricably intertwined with these issues and must be remanded as well.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a lumbar spine disorder due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is required to provide updated VA treatment records, including mental health treatment records. He must also be provided with adequate VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding the Veteran's low back disability prior to October 1, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disability and any current low back disability requires additional development, including obtaining an examination to determine the etiology of these conditions. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right ankle disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and low back disorder due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's testimony regarding in-service injuries is considered, but further medical opinions are needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, including as secondary to her service-connected bilateral knee arthritis. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran’s back condition was less likely than not incurred in or caused by an in-service injury and is unrelated to her service-connected bilateral knee arthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and bilateral foot disabilities due to insufficient reasoning in previous decisions and the need for additional evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability and remanded the issue of service connection for Paget’s disease. The decision is pending further development.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and bilateral lower extremity sciatica, finding that the evidence did not support direct service connection due to lack of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology since service.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and right ear retracted tympanic membrane.,Right knee and low back disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and medical opinions. The Veteran's claim for service connection for dyslipidemia was denied as it does not qualify as a disability for VA compensation purposes. Other claims are pending, including those for sleep apnea, back disability, hip disabilities, ankle disabilities, psychiatric disability, and inguinal hernia.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for back and neck disabilities remain denied as they do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions regarding his shoulder, back, and knee disabilities. The hypertension claim is also remanded with additional instructions.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbar strain is granted a 20 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran’s persistent depressive disorder is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and service connection for a lumbar disorder was also denied.

The Board has remanded several claims, including those for service connection and increased ratings. The Veteran's attorney requested additional development related to the competency of VA examiners and the need for new medical opinions on various issues.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with multi-level degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began in service and have persisted since then.