Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2023

The Veteran's back condition and PTSD are not related to his service from November 7, 2005, to September 22, 2015.,His period of honorable service ended with a dishonorable discharge due to misconduct.

The Veteran's back disability is granted a 40% rating from April 29, 2016 to May 19, 2017. The right lower extremity nerve disability is denied any increase in rating during the same period.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than January 28, 2016, for the award of service connection for degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis, right knee osteoarthritis, bilateral hearing loss and GERD have been dismissed.,Effective January 28, 2016, an initial rating of 30 percent for GERD has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance for a back brace in 2018 is denied because the lumbar corset, which was prescribed for his service-connected low back disability, did not cause wear and tear to his clothing. The earlier issued back brace from 2015 was also not worn 'because of a service-connected disability' during 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to the Veteran's unavailability for VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the issue of rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease due to incomplete VA treatment records from the Bay Pines VA Health Care System.

The Veteran's leg length discrepancy and additional disabilities (pelvic obliquity, low back pain, and right hip pain) are not service-connected.,VA left knee replacement surgery in April 2013 caused the development of a leg length discrepancy but did not cause pelvic obliquity, low back pain, or right hip pain.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection. The issues of TDIU and service connection for a lumbar spine disability are remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to assist the Veteran with his claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and providing notice regarding military sexual trauma. The claims for service connection are being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbosacral spine, right foot, and left foot disabilities due to a lack of VA examinations. The Veteran is required to undergo additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and back condition are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for a psychiatric disorder is remanded as he has not been afforded a VA examination regarding his current diagnoses.,The Veteran's claim for erectile dysfunction/loss of reproductive organ is remanded because it is inextricably intertwined with his service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder.,The Veteran's claim for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded as he has not been afforded a VA examination regarding his current diagnosis.,The Veteran's claims for bronchial asthma and COPD are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for a right shoulder disability is remanded because he has not been afforded a VA examination regarding his current condition.,The Veteran's claims for frostbite left foot, frostbite right foot, chronic mycotic infection bilateral feet, and bilateral foot disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD and remanded the issue of service connection for a low back disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's spine and extremity disabilities are being remanded for additional medical opinions to address the severity of his conditions, particularly during flare-ups or with repeated use.,The Veteran's skin disability is also being remanded due to unclear onset and systemic therapy status.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip strain, low back disability, tinnitus, and right ankle strain due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for additional VA and private clinical documentation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding his bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating and an earlier effective date for TDIU are being remanded due to the need for further VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and remanded the left ankle disability claim.