Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2020

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen her previously denied claim for service connection for low back disability. However, both issues of service connection have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection is dismissed as moot because the earliest possible effective date, November 1, 2012, has already been granted. The Board finds no error of fact or law to consider.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and readjudication due to inadequate examinations in the previous rating decisions.

The Board has determined that additional evidence was submitted and a new examination is needed for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability due to a potential worsening since his last VA examination. The right knee patellofemoral syndrome claim also needs further review.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and development of records. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but a higher rating may be warranted based on additional evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral tinea pedis, a bilateral knee disability, a low back disability, and a burn scar of the left shoulder. The Veteran's symptoms were observed in-service and have continued to present post-service.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for degenerative disc disease with strain of the cervical spine prior to November 17, 2014 was granted at a 30 percent level.,Since November 17, 2014, his disability rating has been increased to 30 percent due to favorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disorder, but denied earlier effective dates for bilateral pes planus and PTSD.,Service connection was established for a lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected back and lower extremity disabilities rendered him unemployable from September 21, 2006 through September 15, 2008. The Board granted an extraschedular TDIU rating based on the benefit of the doubt.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional records, including SSA disability benefits and VA medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability and tinnitus due to incomplete record development, including a lack of active duty service treatment records. The Veteran is also required to undergo new VA examinations for both conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability has been reopened, and the case is being remanded due to additional development needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar disc disease, right side and left side lumbar radiculopathy have been denied. The effective date of the awards has not been granted prior to January 17, 2007.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine condition, allergic condition, stomach condition, heart condition, joints condition, lower back condition, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities. The claims were all denied as there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's applications to reopen his previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for various knee, ankle, and hearing loss disorders must be reconsidered under the correct regulatory framework. The case is being remanded to issue a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or any link to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine with osteoarthritis (low back disorder), and coronary artery disease (CAD) have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has remanded for further evaluation due to the complexity of his conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the four service connection claims for arthritis of the cervical spine, arthritis of the right hand, a low back disorder, and a right ankle disorder due to additional evidence being submitted without AOJ review.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a right leg injury (scar), and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The Veteran did not meet the requirements for exposure to herbicides for Air Force veterans who served on or near the perimeter of air bases in Thailand.,The Board found no evidence of diabetes mellitus type II during service, and there was no credible evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's appeals regarding left hand/wrist and right ankle disabilities, as well as bronchitis and lumbar spine disability have been dismissed.,Service connection for these conditions has not been established.