Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

Effective dates of May 20, 2019, have been granted for the service connection of generalized anxiety disorder, degenerative arthritis of both knees and the thoracolumbar spine, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence of a current right hip disability and remanded the claims for left hip and back disabilities. The Veteran's PTSD remains at a 30% rating.

The Veteran's back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy are rated at 40 percent, but the rating for PTSD is denied. The Veteran also received a TDIU.

The Veteran's lumbar spinal stenosis is granted as service connected, secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.,The Veteran's PTSD does not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The appeal concerning the issue of entitlement to service connection for PTSD is dismissed.,Entitlement to service connection for a back condition is denied.

The Veteran's back brace, used to treat his service-connected lumbar sprain with spondylolisthesis and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, causes wear and tear on his clothing. The Board granted an annual clothing allowance for a back brace in 2020.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and requires an opinion on whether the Veteran's low back disability was aggravated by an in-service injury, event, or illness.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, fungal condition on the right foot, and lumbosacral strain due to inadequate opinions in the May 2021 VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment during the period on appeal, thus TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's hypertension, left knee arthralgia, right knee arthralgia, lumbar strain with DDD, and shoulder disabilities are not shown to be related to service.,Erectile dysfunction is not shown to be caused by or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and right knee conditions were denied, with the rating for lumbosacral strain remaining at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, which may be related to service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, intervertebral disc syndrome is granted service connection. The right shoulder disability is currently rated at 30 percent and not entitled to an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a back disorder, and a psychiatric disorder due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, hypertension associated with herbicide agent exposure, bilateral pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis, and vasectomy scar residuals have been granted. The remaining issues of service connection for hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, prostate disability, skin disabilities, right ankle disability, esophageal disability, hemorrhoids, and left eye disability are being remanded.,The Veteran's claims for recurrent lumbar spine disability (including degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis), recurrent right knee disability (including osteoarthritis), recurrent prostate disability (including benign prostate hyperplasia), recurrent skin disability (including tinea versicolor, tinea corporis, tinea cruris, and eczema), recurrent right ankle disability (including cellulitis), recurrent esophageal disability (GERD), hemorrhoids, and acquired left eye disability (including corneal abrasion and cataract) are being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of complete service records, specifically those from the Veteran's Reserve service in Afghanistan. The VA will need to obtain these records and verify his periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA.

The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for back and neck disabilities was improper, as well as the severance of service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity radiculopathy. The appeal is granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as none of his service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and there is no evidence that they render him unemployable.

The Board has found that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error and the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine and left shoulder disabilities must be remanded for addendum medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran had continuous symptoms of tinnitus since service separation. Service connection was denied for a low back disorder due to lack of evidence of current disability.