Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his back disability is denied as the evidence does not show incapacitating episodes or limitation of motion that would warrant an increased evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the service connection claims for left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, low back disorder, hearing loss, vertigo, and hypothyroidism due to potential exposure to anti-malarial medications and toxic exposure risk activities (TERA).

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including right hand fifth digit condition, respiratory condition (including asthma and COPD), left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, low back condition, hypertension, migraines headaches, and congestive heart failure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine condition, which is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected gunshot wound residuals, and for TDIU. The remand requires obtaining an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the lumbar spine conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD and his TDIU claim, finding that there was no evidence linking his sleep apnea to his service-connected PTSD or any other service-connected condition.

Service connection for COPD and bilateral hearing loss is granted. Service connection for neck disorder and back disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including MDD, GAD, and PTSD. The back and right knee disabilities are denied as not related to service.

The Board dismissed the legacy appeal for service connection of a back disability because the Veteran elected to have his claim processed under the AMA system, which withdrew his appeal from the legacy appeals system.

The Board has remanded the claims for a bilateral knee disability and low back disability to obtain an addendum VA medical opinion addressing the Veteran's lay statements of in-service injury and continuity of symptoms, as well as obesity as an intermediary step between service-connected disabilities. The examiner is asked to address whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including hyperlipidemia, hypertension, peripheral vestibular disorder, a disability manifested by passing out, obstructive sleep apnea, migraine headaches, low back disability, psychiatric disorders, allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions have been dismissed due to their death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar spine disability and depressive disorder with sleep disturbances, have rendered him unable to secure and maintain a substantially gainful occupation prior to February 11, 2020. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a right knee disability and its secondary effects on other joints and systems. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all relevant records, conduct additional development, and provide appropriate VA examinations as needed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and an internal injuries, including a groin disorder. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability related to service or any link between the claimed conditions and service.,The medical opinions provided by VA examiners were consistent in finding that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not causally related to his military service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is rated at 40 percent, but no higher, for the period on appeal. The Board found that the Veteran had forward flexion of 30 degrees during his most recent examination in September 2019, which was applicable to the entire period on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed back injury and right leg radiculopathy are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right ankle condition and low back condition with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for his right knee, left hip, and left ankle conditions due to secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder alone rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from November 25, 2015. Effective March 7, 2016, the Veteran was awarded SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings and TDIU related to his lumbar condition.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy of the lower extremities have been granted increased ratings, with a total rating of 40 percent for both conditions.