Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and requests further development including a new VA medical examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations and evaluations to address inconsistencies in his diagnoses and treatment records, particularly regarding lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral pes planus, and major depressive disorder. The appeals are remanded for further development.

The Board denied an increased rating higher than 20 percent for the Veteran's low back injury, finding that her symptoms do not warrant a higher rating based on limitation of motion. The current 20 percent rating is considered appropriate given the evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations in May 2011 and May 2014, which did not address the Veteran's flare-ups. The case is now being sent back for a retrospective opinion regarding these findings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation during the periods of concern, as he was able to maintain several entry-level jobs.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and peripheral neuropathy are not related to service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for thoracic kyphosis, lumbar scoliosis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine due to new evidence showing that his pre-existing back condition may have been aggravated by military service. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance due to his service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied because the VA-issued Taylor Knight back brace does not cause wear and tear of his clothing, as determined by the Under Secretary for Health.

The Board denied service connection for left hip, right foot, and left foot degenerative joint disease (claimed as arthritis throughout the body) due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to active military service.,Service records did not show any indication of back pain or injury during periods of ACDUTRA. The appellant reported recurrent back pain only once in 1983, and her spine was found normal on examination.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spondylosis disability is being remanded for additional examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back and left knee disabilities have been denied as there is no evidence of a direct relationship to her military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The remaining issues were remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his low back disability, sleep apnea, and psychiatric disabilities. The VA is required to provide examinations or obtain medical opinions in order to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's low back arthrosis is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a new VA examination and obtaining additional medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to outstanding records not being associated with the claims file. The Veteran is also requested to provide any additional records related to his treatment at VA facilities.

The Veteran's appeal regarding effective dates for increased ratings for hypothyroidism, right hand carpal tunnel syndrome, low back disability, and right shoulder adhesive capsulitis was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show the conditions were of severity warranting the requested earlier effective dates prior to January 2, 2015.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were filed on June 25, 2010, and the RO assigned the current effective dates based on VA examination findings from January 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability, initial ratings for his low back and right lower extremity disabilities, and TDIU due to the need for updated examinations and opinions regarding the severity of these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected knee and lumbar spine disabilities, as the existing VA examination reports do not comply with the requirements set forth in Correia v. McDonald (2016).

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including panic disorder and anxiety) as there is no evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's military service.