Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for lumbar strain and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in November 2020.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to missing VA examinations, new evidence received, and issues with the adequacy of previous medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and a skin disorder, finding no evidence of a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been rated at 70 percent, and he is granted a TDIU. The back disability remains remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for polysubstance abuse, which was secondary to his service-connected PTSD, has been granted. The appeal is dismissed as there is no longer a controversy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for missing VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for new opinions due to inadequate previous examinations. The VA will need to provide a thorough examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the neck and back disabilities, including whether they are related to service or secondary to other conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral rotator cuff tears and lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected conditions prior to July 21, 2016. The VA examiner is requested to provide an updated opinion on the severity of these conditions and their impact on employment.

The Board has remanded the case for a retrospective opinion on the Veteran's functional impairment due to service-connected disabilities prior to and around February 2012, and for referral of his request for TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) to the Director of Compensation Service.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development to obtain VA treatment records from Marion VAMC dated between 1997 and 1999. The Veteran's service connection claims are pending.

The Board has granted service connection for left ear sensorineural hearing loss, but denied service connection for right ear sensorineural hearing loss and back disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the cause of death.

The Veteran's claims for sinusitis, GERD, and DJD of the lumbar and thoracic spine were denied. The claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted. A TDIU from September 3, 2013 to November 13, 2019 was granted, but the claim is moot after that date.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his representation through his authorized representative.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed lower back and right hip disabilities. The VA examiners were required to offer opinions on whether the Veteran’s back and hip conditions are at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for left knee instability/subluxation, lumbar spine arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome prior to March 15, 2017, and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy from April 4, 2015 to March 13, 2017 were denied. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy since March 14, 2017 is also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and migraine headaches due to inadequate examination reports and lack of proper development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability and sciatic nerve disability, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions as being related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for a rating in excess of 20 percent for a lumbar spine disability, service connection for polyneuropathy of the extremities, and service connection for hypertension have been dismissed. The Veteran is granted an initial 30 percent rating for IBS-C over the entire appeal period.