Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back conditions and a need for updated VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evidence regarding the Veteran's low back pain, including private medical records from Oklahoma City and Houston.

The Board has determined that new examinations are needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to a lack of recent VA or private treatment records, as well as potential flare-ups. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to assess the current severity of her disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar strain and recurrent rhinitis and sinusitis status post nasal septal surgery are remanded for further evaluation. Service connection for left eye disability and right eye disability is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability should be remanded due to inadequate VA examination and new evidence received.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate or speculative opinions in his VA examination reports. The Veteran is seeking service connection for neck, back, right shoulder, right knee, stomach, and hypertension disorders.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,The Board has denied a higher rating for migraine headaches prior to November 18, 2016 and since then.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient consideration of certain medical records and examination reports in previous decisions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and remanded it for further development. The issue is now before the RO again.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions (sleep apnea, PTSD, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes, residuals of left ankle fracture, hypertension, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and erectile dysfunction) cause damage to his clothing due to the use of prescribed braces. The Board granted a clothing allowance for the 2015 calendar year based on this evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral ankle, low back, and knee disabilities are at least as likely as not related to his service-connected pes planus disability. As a result, these claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's claims for left ankle, right knee, and bilateral foot disabilities have been reopened. The claim for lumbosacral strain has been granted.,Service connection is denied for the left ankle disability as there is no evidence of a current condition or chronic impairment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disability due to insufficient information in the record. The Veteran was not provided with a VA examination to assess his claimed disabilities, and additional development is needed.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability and service connection for his left ankle disorder were both denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting either claim.

The Board has remanded the cases of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability and meralgia paresthetica due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The case is now returned for additional medical opinions addressing whether the Veteran's service-connected left foot and knee disabilities caused or aggravated his claimed conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for a skin disorder, pseudofolliculitis barbae. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression), left foot disorder, and low back disorder are remanded.

Service connection is granted for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine degenerative joint disease with right lower extremity radiculopathy, and degenerative changes of the sacroiliac joint.,Service connection is denied for arthritis other than arthritis of the cervical spine, lumbar spine, or sacroiliac joints, swollen joints, and hypertension.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left testicle condition, left shoulder strain, lumbosacral strain, chest pain, and PTSD. The evidence is at least in equipoise that these conditions are related to his reported in-service stressors while serving in Iraq.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, right knee condition, and left knee condition due to unclear rationale in the VA examiner's report.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for his service-connected back disability, including degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine, is being remanded due to a lack of recent examination and potential need for additional private treatment records.