Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an opinion regarding service connection for a lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's claim is currently pending.

The Veteran's claims for reimbursement of parking fees and monthly subsistence allowance, as well as his request for VR&E services including independent living services, are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence.,The Veteran has been provided with a thorough vocational rehabilitation evaluation that includes assessments of his current limitations caused by service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to perform in both his current occupational field and desired career changes.

The Board has not fully complied with previous remand directives and the appeal for service connection of back and neck disorders is being sent back for further development.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for lumbar strain with scoliosis, osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease, and service connection for obstructive sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions. The Veteran was unable to complete range of motion testing during a previous VA examination because he was in too much pain.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and further development is required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and service connection for a sleep disorder due to potential inconsistencies in VA examination reports and incomplete medical records.

The Board has dismissed the issue of entitlement to service connection for a left big toe disability. The Veteran's low back and hip disabilities are granted, but the knee and shoulder disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate examination opinions. The Veteran's lay statements indicate that his symptoms began during or shortly after service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for updated VA treatment records and a new VA examination to evaluate the severity of the Veteran's low back strain.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability. The Board also denied increased ratings for his cervical spine and major depressive disorder disabilities.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a traumatic brain injury and evaluation of cervical strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine, previously rated as neck strain. The Veteran's claim is based on new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his low back disability from October 12, 2009 to March 31, 2013 was denied as the evidence did not show that his condition more closely approximated unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40% since May 8, 2018. The effective date for this rating remains unchanged from the previous decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's employment status and hours worked, which is necessary to determine if he qualifies for TDIU prior to October 29, 2018.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability did not start during his military service and is not related to any in-service injury or event. As a result, the claim for service connection for this condition was denied.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for low back disorder and COPD, finding new and material evidence. The appeals for left rib disorder and left hip disorder are remanded.

The Board denied an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, as his education and work history suggest he is capable of performing various jobs. His current physical and mental health conditions are consistent with lower evaluations than those currently assigned for these disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a lower back disorder, finding that there is no competent and probative evidence relating his current condition to service or a service-connected disability.