Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

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

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and denied a rating greater than 10 percent for arthritis of the left knee.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected chronic thoracolumbar spine strain is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of additional evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome of the knees is granted as service connected. The low back and neck disabilities are remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to determine if his back condition is secondary to service-connected bilateral knee disability, if his pes planus was aggravated by service, and if his skin conditions are related to herbicide exposure. The Veteran will need to undergo further medical examinations and receive a VA opinion on these issues.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, including arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current condition was not related to his in-service injury and there is no evidence of chronicity within one year of discharge.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and evaluation, particularly regarding his back disorder. The claims of service connection for morbid obesity, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, and TDIU are also pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection was granted for a left eye disorder, but denied for right shoulder condition, lower back condition, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, right foot disability, and residuals of facial injuries due to lack of in-service diagnosis and continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability and degenerative disc disease with anterolisthesis of the lumbar spine are not shown to be related to his military service, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee condition, right knee condition, and obstructive sleep apnea due to new evidence received since previous decisions. The lumbar spine and cervical spine conditions remain under review.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board grants TDIU. The claim for an increased rating for major depressive disorder is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, lumbar spine disability, and a lower extremity disability (manifested by bilateral leg numbness) due to lack of evidence supporting the claims. The Veteran's current conditions are not considered related to his military service.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was granted a 20 percent rating, as it met the criteria for forward flexion greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic low back disorder and asthma, finding no medical nexus between the conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current back disability and his active duty service. The examiner is asked to consider instances of back strains in 1978, 1979, and 1980 noted in the Veteran's service treatment records, as well as degenerative changes in the Veteran's thoracic spine noted in his separation examination in 1992.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease L3-4, L4-5, L5-S1 was evaluated as 10 percent disabling prior to February 9, 2015, and as 20 percent disabling on and after that date. The Board denied a higher initial rating for the disability.

The Board has remanded four issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including a bilateral arm disability, back disability, disfiguring scar of the forehead, and burn scars of the right arm. The decision is pending further action by the Veteran's current representative.

The Veteran's back condition is being remanded for a new examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, including any associated radiculopathy. Additionally, TDIU benefits are also being remanded due to potential changes in disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder and back disorder should be remanded due to new evidence received since the last final denial of his claim. The right shoulder disorder may have been related to an in-service fall, but further examination is needed to determine this. The back disorder was not shown during service or within one year after separation, and there is no medical evidence linking it to service.