Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for right hip osteoarthritis and lumbar spondylosis and intervertebral disc syndrome, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to her military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate completion of prior remand instructions regarding service connection for a back disability (claimed as back pain). The Veteran's assertions and a private opinion need to be considered in determining whether there is clear and unmistakable evidence that his conditions preexisted service or were aggravated by service.

The Board has expanded the Veteran's claim to include sacroiliac strain, spondylolisthesis of the fifth lumbar vertebra, osteoarthritis, and degenerative changes with radiculopathy. The case is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep disorders other than obstructive sleep apnea and back conditions, but has remanded the issues of service connection for psychiatric disorders due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and SMC have been remanded due to inadequate examination reports, need for additional evidence, and inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions. The VA examiner must consider the lay evidence of in-service injuries and continuous pain since service.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted service connection.,The initial compensable rating for chronic sinusitis with headaches is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there is no evidence of a direct or secondary relationship to his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements and the impact of his service-connected PTSD on his employability. The case will be returned for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current condition and his military service. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran’s degenerative lumbar spondylosis is not related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding service connection for a back disability. The Veteran's statements of having back pain related to service, as well as her VA examiner's note in 1976, are considered. An additional examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's low back disability. The Veteran is required to provide records of his treatment and VA must secure them for review by a clinician who will provide an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 40 percent for the period from April 23, 2019 to October 11, 2020. Effective October 12, 2020, his left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve are each rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The initial rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine remains at 20 percent.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings for various disabilities, including psoriatic arthritis, kidney disorder, left shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and right ankle disability. The issues were withdrawn by the Veteran through his attorney.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development and an addendum VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is related to service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for tension headaches, bilateral foot disability, and back disability due to issues with compliance with previous orders and the need for additional evidence.

The Board has decided that additional medical records are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's back disability, and thus remands the case for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis due to the lack of evidence linking the condition to active duty service.,The Board has remanded the claims for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine at L4-L5 and L5-S1 and left ankle chondromalacia, as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine disc disease status post laminectomy is remanded due to inadequate examination findings. The TDIU claim prior to May 28, 2013, is also remanded as there is evidence suggesting the Veteran may be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.