Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the appeals for residuals of right ankle sprain and residuals of left knee injury. The appeal for residuals of low back injury, including lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased rating due to failure of the Veteran to RSVP for scheduled VA examinations. The proper procedures must be followed on remand.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder due to incomplete STRs.

The Board has dismissed the appeals due to the Veteran's death, and no new evidence or claims were presented.

The Board has denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease, finding that it does not meet the criteria for a higher than 20 percent disability rating.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back and cervical spine disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran's statements about a motor vehicle accident during service are considered credible, but further clarification is needed regarding the relationship between his current conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and remand are necessary due to the need for updated VA examinations, as well as for obtaining private medical records related to his PTSD and chronic headaches.

The Veteran's major depression with low back pain is granted a 100% evaluation, effective from the date of the decision. The appeal for TDIU was dismissed.

The Board has reopened several service connection claims but has remanded them for further development and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations. The Veteran's claims are not granted as there is no evidence of a dentoalveolar fracture related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability, increased ratings for lumbosacral and right shoulder disabilities, and TDIU due to unresolved issues regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability is reopened, and GERD is denied. The Board finds additional evidence related to the reopening of the claim but remands for further development on the merits of both claims.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses at the Mother Francis Hospital on June 6, 2014 is denied because his condition did not meet the criteria for emergency treatment and he was able to seek care from a VA facility.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the severity of his lumbosacral strain with arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine between March 22, 2016 and July 24, 2019. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the rating issue.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural and duty to assist errors, as well as incomplete records of treatment for the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability. The appeal is now before the AOJ for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claim for a lumbar spine disorder and remanded it for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded to determine the current severity of his service-connected conditions.,No effective date is assigned as the evidence does not indicate a worsening in the one year prior to March 16, 2018.

The Board has remanded all service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 claims for further development due to the submission of new evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to service. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran was granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to December 8, 2009. The decision is based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his inability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.