Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diverticulitis. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claim for service connection for a back disability.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran's current diverticulitis, as there is no evidence of a nexus between the condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar disability prior to October 25, 2019 was denied. The VA examination did not provide sufficient information on functional loss due to pain or flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disability and bilateral leg disability due to insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran's claims are inextricably intertwined, so both must be resolved before further action can be taken.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since October 6, 2016. The appeal is remanded for further development including additional VA examinations to assess the current severity of his left shoulder and back disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a new medical opinion to address whether his back disability is secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder and if obesity, which may be an intermediate step between his service-connected depressive disorder and back disability, caused or aggravated his back disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's low back disability and service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for clarification from a VA examiner's opinion, which was based on non-medical sources.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a new VA examination and medical opinion to determine if his current lumbar spine disability is related to service, as there was insufficient information provided in the previous remand.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including for his right-hand disability, obstructive sleep apnea, service-connected low back disability, and acquired psychiatric disability. The appeals are being remanded to allow for further development of the record.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU rating.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of the Veteran's neck, low back, and left knee disabilities due to insufficient examination opinions and missing medical records.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the merits have been dismissed.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen claims of service connection for low back disability, respiratory disability (to include bronchitis and asthma), prostate cancer, and right knee disability.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes. The left shoulder, right wrist, lumbar spine, and right hand disabilities are remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The gastrointestinal disability is also remanded as it may be related to medication prescribed for other service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with wedging of the thoracic vertebrae was denied for a rating in excess of 40 percent beginning on August 31, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and conflicting medical opinions. The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disease of the lumbar spine is pending.

The Board denied service connection for thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, ruptured right ear drum (healed), and kidney disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the May 1963 automobile accident.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and its associated right lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his low back disorder and associated radiculopathies has been denied. The rating for the low back disorder prior to February 2, 2012 is denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA guidelines. From February 2, 2012 onwards, a 20 percent rating was granted for the left lower extremity radiculopathy and a denial of any higher rating for the right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient efforts by the AOJ in obtaining the Veteran's service records. Service connection is granted for tinnitus, but the issues related to psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis remain pending as they were not discussed or addressed in the July 2013 VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder did not manifest in service or within one year of separation, and is not related to his active duty. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.