Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service connection claims for left and right hip osteoarthritis, as well as a right knee disorder post total replacement and degenerative disc disease are granted. The claim for left knee osteoarthritis is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lower back disability due to new evidence received from the service department records. The VA examiner's opinion was inadequate, and a new examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbosacral strain and tinnitus due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding the onset of his symptoms. The Veteran is seeking service connection for both conditions, but the Board found that there was not enough evidence to support a finding of nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2013 due to service-connected disabilities. The effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits prior to February 1, 2015 is denied as the Veteran does not have a total disability rating during that period.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for further development due to the need to obtain private medical records from Dr. H. and Dr. B.K.

Service connection for left shoulder calcific tendonitis is granted. Effective November 21, 2017, the Veteran receives a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD and service connection for lumbosacral strain, left hip impairment (status post arthroscopic surgery), left hip limitation of flexion, and scars of the right hip are also granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and a back disability, both secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and back arthritis, have rendered her unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to their impact on her ability to work as a behavioral and mental health therapist.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and back arthritis, have rendered her unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to their impact on her ability to work as a behavioral and mental health therapist.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, thus TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his postoperative residuals of herniated nucleus pulpous lumbosacral spine, residual scars to the lumbar region, and residual scars with some sensory changes, from the posterior right sacroiliac, bone graft site do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for entitlement to TDIU was remanded as it is related to his increased ratings claims.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities. However, the right shoulder and right knee disability claims are remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided for the low back disability claim was inadequate and remanded to provide a new one with an opinion based on full consideration of the Veteran's service history.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, kidney disability, and several other disabilities are denied. The Board has remanded the remaining service connection claims.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, a right knee disability, a cervical spine disability, and a lumbar spine disability. Service connection is denied for a left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and musculoskeletal conditions, prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment. The Board has determined that the criteria for a TDIU are met.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected neck disability and cervical radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities have been denied. The evidence does not support a finding that he is entitled to a rating in excess of 20 percent for any condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various knee, hip, and ankle conditions as secondary to a service-connected left great toe fracture with degenerative arthritis. Additional medical opinions are needed to determine if these conditions were aggravated by the service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and an earlier effective date of October 9, 2019 for a 100 percent rating award for service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The vision disability claim is remanded.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and therefore denied his claim for service connection. The claims for left ankle condition, right ankle condition, and lower back condition are remanded due to insufficient evidence of in-service injury or disease.