Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder and lower back disabilities, but the appeal regarding a respiratory disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back and neck conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability and right foot disability due to his service-connected left ankle disability. The claims are being returned for further development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's lower back disorder and radiculopathies were granted a rating of 20 percent effective June 5, 2009. The previous ratings for the period before June 5, 2009 are denied.

The Board has remanded the cases of the Veteran's low back and left ankle disorders due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The VA is instructed to obtain private treatment records from Phoenix Physical Therapy and SSA records for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain is denied.,The Veteran's claims for compensable disability ratings prior to October 1, 2019, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter, for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity are denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating prior to October 1, 2019, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter, for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient development and lack of a physician examination. The case will be returned for further review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The issues include right knee, left ankle, right ankle, acid reflux (ulcer), and low back disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral elbow condition, lumbar strain, and bilateral hip condition due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's reports of in-service pain.

Service connection for a lumbar spine disability, arthritis, gastrointestinal disability, and brain atrophy (as a residual of TBI) is denied.,The Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, as secondary to a service-connected disability due to new and material evidence submitted by the Veteran. Additional medical comment is needed concerning whether some medications prescribed for his service-connected disabilities aggravate his sleep apnea.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and a compensable rating for his left leg burn scar.,Service connection was not granted as there is no evidence of a current back disorder or any link to military service. The Veteran’s back disorder is considered to be related to post-service work activities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's complete service treatment records and to ensure proper notification of their unavailability. The issues of service connection for various disabilities are being remanded.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 20 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating due to limited forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine.,The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 10 percent and there is no indication that it warrants a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar strain, kyphoscoliosis, intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), and degenerative arthritis is rated at 40 percent since March 23, 2018.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted a 40 percent rating prior to November 1, 2019 and denied for any higher rating. A separate 30 percent rating is granted for bladder impairment associated with the lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a left knee disability, lumbar spine disability (to include as secondary to a knee disability), and sleep apnea due to additional development being required.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent from November 22, 2019. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent for the entire rating period prior to November 3, 2020. Effective November 3, 2020, a higher rating of over 40 percent is denied.