Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's back disability and memory loss.

The Board has remanded three separate claims for additional development due to the need for updated treatment records and VA examinations. The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities are being evaluated further.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is etiologically related to his in-service injuries, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, back disorder, right foot disorder, sleep disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran was scheduled to appear at a hearing but failed to show up without good cause.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities including left shoulder, right shoulder, back, left knee, and bilateral eye conditions due to a lack of current diagnoses or functional impairment.

The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral intervertebral disc syndrome with grade 1 spondylolisthesis of L5-S1 and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and increased ratings on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional medical records from Dr. Lozman.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for his TDIU and CUE, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the April 1999 rating decision.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, finding that the evidence does not support a link between these conditions and active service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's lower back, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disabilities. The claims of service connection for these conditions are not addressed in this decision.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed due to the inadequacy of the April 2013 VA examination and the need for new opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right ankle, right hip, left knee, and low back conditions.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent effective August 23, 2018. The rating for his femoral radiculopathy remains at 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD, anxiety, and depression) and residuals of Bell's palsy (secondary to an acquired psychiatric disability).

Service connection for left knee pain has been granted. The issues of service connection for lumbar spine disorder and right wrist disorder have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for mechanical low back pain and retropatellar pain syndrome of the left knee due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his failure to report for VA examinations and because of an earlier effective date claim. The claims will be remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an adequate retrospective opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability prior to July 10, 2017. The Veteran is presumed to be seeking the maximum allowable benefit and her claim remains in controversy.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected vertebral fracture with degenerative disc disease (DDD), status post laminectomy and fusion of the thoracolumbar spine, is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher disability rating beyond 40 percent due to functional loss from pain, weakness, fatigue or incoordination.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and examination, as there are medical questions that need clarification.