Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the VA examination and opinion are inadequate for determining service connection due to an incomplete or inaccurate factual premise. The Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service back pain and injuries have not been considered, and the examiner did not consider the Veteran's first period of active duty from July 1967 to May 1970.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to deficiencies in the VA examination reports. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder is pending.

The Board denied service connection for back and neck disorders, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and active military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination regarding service connection for a low back disorder as secondary to service-connected left knee disability. A supplemental VA medical opinion is needed to address whether the low back disorders are aggravated by the service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the initial higher ratings for PTSD, scar status post laminectomy and chronic capsulitis of the left foot.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea is granted, and the Board finds that his symptoms during military service were more likely due to stress or other causes than to sleep apnea. The Veteran's lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities are remanded for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA spine examination and updated medical records. The claim will be reconsidered after the additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current knee and back conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that it is related to injuries and treatment during active service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a low back disorder has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of the claims, including consideration of TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further medical examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity disabilities.

The Board has found that additional development is required before the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for lower back and right hip disabilities are decided. The case is REMANDED to the RO.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral arm, elbow, wrist, and low back disorders are being remanded due to the need for further development including a VA examination.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU and his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that arthritis of the lumbar spine is a result of an injury during active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of records, including private treatment records from Dr. Chang.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim due to missing medical records and inconsistencies in his statements. The case will be reviewed again after obtaining these records.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted with an effective date of May 24, 1997, as the evidence shows he was last employed on that date and had been unemployable due to his service-connected back disability for over a year prior.