Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The Board finds the evidence at least in equipoise regarding the right and left knee disabilities, but remanded for additional development. Service connection for PTSD is denied due to lack of a confirmed diagnosis by a VA psychiatrist or psychologist.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine with IVDS, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and osteoarthritis of the left hip. The Veteran's disabilities are deemed to have started during his active duty.

The Veteran's claims for clothing allowances in 2017 and 2018 due to the use of Canadian crutches are being remanded because no Statement of the Case has been issued, and he expressed disagreement with the decisions.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been dismissed as the benefit sought on appeal has been granted in full.,The application to reopen the claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus and shin splints is granted, but further examination and opinion are needed.

The Veteran's cervical DDD was granted a 20% rating from February 12, 2009, to September 3, 2019. Ratings in excess of 20% and 30% were denied for the periods from September 3, 2019, to September 13, 2022.

The Board has granted the petitions to reopen claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder and back disability, but denied the petition to reopen a claim for right knee disability. The appeals are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for recurrent lumbar spine and left knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection, increased rating, and TDIU due to incomplete medical opinions and need for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart condition, chilblains and paresthesias of the bilateral lower extremities (claimed as cold injury residuals), neck condition, and low back condition. The left knee and right knee conditions have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a low back disability due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives and the need for an adequate opinion.

The Veteran's cervical spine, left ankle disorders (including arthritis), and right shoulder disabilities are granted. The Veteran's left and right ankle disabilities are also granted. However, the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left and right shoulders remain pending as additional development is needed.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including heart disability secondary to hypertension, psoriasis, dry eye syndrome, and scars of the abdomen and lumbar spine. The effective dates for these claims are pending verification of all periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a back condition, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected ankle, knee, and hip disabilities. The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to August 14, 2012, for the increased evaluations of his service-connected migratory arthritis conditions have been denied as it is not factually ascertainable that an increase in disability occurred.

Service connection is granted for lumbar spine osteoarthritis, right foot onychomycosis, left foot onychomycosis, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss.,Service connection is remanded for PTSD and headaches.

The Board has granted an effective date of December 23, 2014 for the grant of a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran met the schedular criteria for TDIU at that time.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and rating of his conditions has been dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected migraines are rated at 50 percent, the highest schedular rating under DC 8100. The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and mild levoscoliosis is not rated higher than 20 percent.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability and low back condition should be remanded due to procedural errors, lack of VA examination, and need for additional records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depressive disorder and anxiety disorder associated with PTSD, lumbosacral strain, and earlier effective dates for TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.