Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back condition as aggravated by his service-connected left knee and ankle disabilities.

The Veteran is seeking to have the effective dates for his service-connected conditions and TDIU revised due to a claimed error in the original rating decisions. The Board has determined that these claims should be remanded for further action.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition. The claims of entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for back, kidney, headache, left leg numbness, and right leg numbness conditions are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) of the lumbar spine, finding that it was caused by in-service responsibilities as a postal service crewman, including carrying heavy packages and equipment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of January 25, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been dismissed. He was granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for their back disability has been denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of entitlement to Total Disability Rating due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU) as there is insufficient evidence regarding the combined effect of service-connected disabilities on employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error and will schedule the Veteran for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his lumbar spine disability, including whether it manifests in the functional equivalent of ankylosis.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of October 26, 2008 for the award of both an extraschedular TDIU and basic eligibility for DEA benefits under chapter 35 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is caused by his service-connected major depressive disorder.,The Veteran's tension headaches are caused by his service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder, lumbosacral degenerative arthritis and paraspinal muscle strain, cervical strain.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hip conditions, bilateral pes planus, and a back strain. The decision is based on the Veteran's lay statements and medical opinions that his current conditions are related to his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not prevent him from securing or following substantial gainful employment.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral hip disorder, lower back disorder, and bilateral foot disorder due to the lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for chronic kidney disease and degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine was denied. The Board also remanded claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy in both lower extremities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, back disability, and right shoulder disability due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran will need new examinations to determine if his conditions are related to service or caused by other conditions.

The Board has ordered the VA to seek additional records and complete certain tasks related to the Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine is rated at a 40 percent effective January 31, 2019.

The Board dismissed the appeal as it was improperly docketed and service connection for the claimed conditions has already been established in a previous decision.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for the 100 percent rating for PTSD, persistent depressive disorder to include TBI, and posttraumatic headaches are denied. The claim for restoration of the 30 percent rating for hypothyroidism is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the submission of additional issues not addressed in previous AOJ decisions. The TERA exposure and development is also required.