Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in loss of use of both lower extremities, necessitating the aid of braces, crutches, canes, or a wheelchair. The appeal is being remanded to obtain updated medical records and conduct VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's back disability is granted an increased rating of 20 percent from August 17, 2015. The appeal for higher ratings and other issues are remanded.

The Board has determined that additional evidence was submitted and should be considered in the first instance. The Veteran's increased rating claims for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and right upper extremity radiculopathy disabilities are being remanded to allow for consideration of this new evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot plantar fasciitis, left foot plantar fasciitis, obstructive sleep apnea, skin rash, and low back disability. The VA examiners found no evidence of these conditions during or after service.,There is no medical evidence linking any of the claimed conditions to military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various musculoskeletal disabilities are being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration.,Service connection is denied for right ear hearing loss, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left hip disability, and right hip disability.

The case is being remanded to obtain a new medical opinion regarding the Veteran's back disability prior to November 2019, addressing factors of functional loss and neurologic abnormalities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis was denied, as the disability did not meet the criteria for a greater than 20 percent or greater than 10 percent rating prior to August 18, 2011. The claim for TDIU prior to August 31, 2015, was also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar degenerative joint disease with IVDS due to inadequate medical evidence in previous decisions and a lack of compliance with VA examination requirements.

The Board granted a 60 percent disability rating for the Veteran's cystic lesion left knee with status post rupture of left patellar tendon (post left total knee replacement) and remanded other claims.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, sterility, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, and migraine have been remanded due to the need for further review of the evidence.,Claims for cervical strain, lumbar strain, right knee condition, left knee condition, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are also being remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating for her service-connected disability. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine, right knee, left knee, right hip, and left hip conditions as secondary to his service-connected bilateral ankle strains. The decision is based on evidence in relative equipoise regarding whether these conditions are related to his service-connected ankle disabilities.

The claim of service connection for a back condition is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the July 2022 medical opinion and the need for further examination.

The Board remands the claims for an increased rating and service connection due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, requiring additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected lumbosacral strain, effective October 19, 2021.

The Board remands the claim for a neck disability to obtain an addendum VA opinion addressing the holdings in Spicer and Saunders.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service. The decision is based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or secondary service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and granted service connection for radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to her service-connected lumbosacral strain.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine, right hip, and left hip conditions. The appeal for an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected left forearm scar is remanded. Service connection for stomach condition (to include acid reflux) is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back condition due to an inadequate VA examination and failure to obtain relevant Social Security Administration records. The case is returned to the AOJ for further action.