Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting the grant of TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee and back disabilities due to incomplete examination reports. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to assess the severity of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for asthma, headaches, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability due to insufficient evidence regarding their service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of VA examinations and insufficient evidence. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations to address his pes planus, thoracolumbar strain, and TBI.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, unspecified depressive disorder, and anxiety due to potential service connection issues.,The VA examination was inadequate in addressing whether the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities are aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, sinusitis, and IBS have been granted. The claim for a back disability is remanded.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder and right knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease, lumbosacral spine (DDD spine), right leg radiculopathy, and left leg radiculopathy. The decision is based on credible statements from the Veteran regarding his combat injuries and a positive nexus opinion from his treating physician's assistant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hip, cervical spine, and lower back disabilities due to a fall injury during active duty. The VA will obtain medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a headache, PTSD, and right hip condition have been dismissed. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot condition has been granted with a 30% rating. Other issues remain on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied as the disability is already at its maximum schedular rating.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because there is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability under VA regulations.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and anxiety, is denied due to lack of a diagnosed current disability conforming to the DSM-5 criteria.,Service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is denied as the condition is less likely than not related to active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal for revision of the September 1984 rating decision that denied service connection for a low back strain on the basis of CUE has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal through his authorized representative.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits, finding that her service-connected disabilities did not render her unemployable prior to May 30, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment, or for adaptive equipment only. The claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance was also denied as there was no evidence of needing regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of the deferred claims for hearing loss, PTSD, and a back disorder as they do not constitute an adjudicative determination from which an appeal may be filed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee and lumbar spine conditions are proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right knee condition, granting secondary service connection for both.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, mitral valve regurgitation, lumbar spine condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition due to a failure to obtain his service treatment records (STRs) and because of an incomplete duty to assist. The Veteran is also being asked to undergo VA examinations to determine if any of these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic sinusitis, chronic headaches, and a low back condition are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding potential exposure to toxic substances during service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it was caused by weight gain from the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder and musculoskeletal disorders.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of degenerative changes with intervertebral disc syndrome (claimed as a low back disability) was granted effective October 12, 2018. The decision is based on new and material evidence received after the initial denial in January 2016.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and opinion provided were inadequate for rating purposes, as they did not consider prior in-service medical treatment and did not describe the disabilities in sufficient detail. The Board also found pre-decisional duty to assist errors regarding obtaining private treatment records and an adequate examination.