Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board remands the claims for service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, left hip, and right hip disorders to obtain additional medical opinions that comply with previous remand instructions.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lower back disability and cognitive impairment, to include TBI, due to insufficient evidence.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for a back condition and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the need for a retrospective opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected back condition.

The Board remands the claim for additional evidentiary development to ensure that the duty to assist has been satisfied to the fullest extent.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a low back disability to ensure that VA attempts to obtain Fox Army Medical Center records from January 1, 1998, to June 30, 2022, and addresses the Veteran's argument regarding the adequacy of previous medical opinions.

The Board remands the claim for a lumbar spine disability to obtain an addendum opinion from a qualified medical professional.

The Board remands the issue of an increased rating for a lumbar spine disability to obtain additional medical evidence regarding the severity of the condition during the period on appeal.

The Board granted increased ratings for the Veteran's degenerative disc disease with spondylosis and sciatic/peroneal nerve radiculopathy, but denied increased ratings for femoral nerve radiculopathy and special monthly compensation.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a back disorder, to include as secondary to a left varicocele, for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and a VA medical opinion.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an increased rating for multilevel degenerative changes of the cervical spine and residuals, fracture of left transverse process, second lumbar vertebra prior to May 22, 2013.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various disorders to correct a pre-decisional error, as new and relevant military records were submitted in 2022 that were not previously considered.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculopathy, and incontinence to ensure VA's duty to assist is satisfied.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the evaluations of chronic lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy.

All appeals for service connection and evaluations of various conditions were dismissed as duplicative, with decisions already issued in January 2025.

The appeal for a higher rating for the service-connected low back disability was denied, while appeals for other conditions were dismissed.

The Board granted restoration of the 30% rating for chronic sinusitis, migraine headaches, and dermatitis of earlobes. The claim for a higher rating for gastroesophageal reflux disease with esophagitis and helicobacter pylori was denied.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease with left lower extremity radiculopathy, as additional evidence needs to be obtained.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar strain status post lumbosacral fusion based on the evidence showing in-service onset and ongoing symptoms.

The Board denied various claims for increased ratings and service connection, including those for PTSD (with TBI), headaches, left elbow fracture with limitation of flexion, left elbow post-operative scar (painful), right 3rd finger fracture, bilateral hearing loss, left elbow scar, right ankle sprain to include right shin splint, erectile dysfunction, right hand disability, and low back disability.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability as the evidence did not support a finding that it began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.