Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current bilateral elbow, knee, and lower back disabilities are at least as likely as not related to service. However, the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral ankle and wrist disabilities have been remanded due to insufficient nexus opinions provided by VA examiners.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no credible evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining medical records and requesting information from the Veteran regarding his employment status.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain prior to July 28, 2016, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter due to insufficient evaluation criteria provided by the VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities caused or aggravated his right hip and lower back conditions.

The Veteran is granted eligibility for specially adapted housing due to his service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease with IVDS and bilateral lower extremities neuropathy, which precludes locomotion without assistive devices. Eligibility for automobile or adaptive equipment was denied as the Veteran does not meet the criteria of loss of use of a hand or foot.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for a back condition and sleep disorder (including sleep apnea) as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for residuals of meningitis, chronic headaches, low back disability, sciatica of the lower extremities, and left ankle disability due to in-service injuries. The issues are being remanded for further development including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for IVDS and lumbosacral strain is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating than 40 percent from April 15, 2019 to the present.

The Veteran's low back pain with muscle spasm is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating based on incapacitating episodes or under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine is not warranted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a thoracolumbar spine disability and left hand fracture due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, osteoarthritis lumbar spine with scoliosis, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, and TDIU. The case is remanded for additional examinations to assess the severity of his lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence to support a higher rating for lumbosacral strain prior to August 11, 2017 or since that date. Service connection was also denied for DVT of the right lower extremity and hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability, concluding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's in-service spinal tap and his current low back disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral leg disability, and bilateral hip disability. The Board found that there is no evidence of a chronic disability during service or within one year after service, and that any current disabilities are not related to service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of right ankle, lower back, right hip, right knee, and left ankle conditions due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine is granted. The Board finds that remand is necessary to address his claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error and incomplete records. The Veteran is entitled to an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of his low back disorder and radiculopathy of the LLE.