Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral foot, leg/knee, hip, headache, psychiatric, lumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during service or were related to in-service events.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to non-compliance with previous remand directives and a need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for medical opinions regarding the etiology of the veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disabilities. The claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus remain denied.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 40% and his left knee disability is rated at 10%. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted for either condition during the period on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition did not manifest in service or within one year of separation and is unrelated to his military duties. The Board also found no credible evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent from July 28, 2015 to July 29, 2020. Ratings in excess of this are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to further development being required, including obtaining comprehensive medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has restored the previous disability ratings for chronic right hip strain and lumbosacral strain, finding that the reduction was improper due to failure to consider whether improvement would be maintained under ordinary conditions of life.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for a left foot disability has been granted. Service connection for prostate cancer and lumbar spine disability remains denied.

The Veteran's back disability, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, is considered to have started during his military service. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and clarification of medical opinions regarding service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is granted service connection. The bilateral foot and cervical spine disorders are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a VA addendum medical opinion to address whether his low back disorder is related to service-connected disabilities, including his multiple lower extremity injuries. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to potential Social Security Administration records and the impact of the low back disorder on employment.

The Veteran's low back strain is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has remanded for further development.,The issues of service connection for OSA, headaches, and TDIU have been remanded due to insufficient evidence or procedural errors in previous decisions.,No specific rating was assigned as the appeal remains pending.

The Veteran's spine conditions are being remanded for additional evaluations and consideration of his TDIU claim due to the inextricability between these issues.

The Board denied service connection for right elbow, right shoulder, upper back, and lower back disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for a low back disability due to incomplete development and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development, including a retrospective medical opinion regarding the Veteran's back disability from December 2013 to January 2020.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, and TDIU due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his sleep apnea and a need for additional examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The decision is based on continuity of symptomatology since separation from service and a nexus to active duty diving duties.