Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain has not been manifested by forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine of 30 degrees or less, ankylosis (favorable or unfavorable) of the entire thoracolumbar spine or the entire spine. Therefore, his claim for a higher evaluation is denied.

The Board dismissed the appeals for increased ratings and service connection claims due to withdrawals by the Veteran's attorney. The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to December 19, 2016, was denied.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for a back condition was granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for the same condition is remanded due to outstanding private treatment records and workman's compensation documents.

The Board has granted service connection for a recurrent right shoulder disability and a recurrent lumbar spine (low back) disability, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during his active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal because his substantive appeal was not timely filed, more than 60 days after the January 2018 Statement of the Case and one year after the March 2014 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for his back disability has been withdrawn.,The claims for increased ratings for left and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and lumbar radiculopathy have been dismissed as moot due to the maximum schedular ratings being assigned.,The Veteran was granted compensable disability ratings (20%) for scars on both hands, effective February 15, 2013.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lung condition due to asbestos exposure, bilateral hearing loss condition, lumbar laminectomy and discectomy, sleep apnea, and irritable bowel syndrome are not service-connected. The cases have been remanded for further development.

The Board has granted an effective date of June 30, 2016 for a TDIU based on the schedular criteria. The claim for TDIU prior to June 30, 2016 is remanded due to lack of schedular criteria.

The Veteran's appeal for a headache disability is dismissed. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU based on the service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's back disability is granted as service-connected.,Right and left ear hearing loss are not service-connected.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back, wrist, knee, ankle and elbow disorders due to insufficient medical opinions. The inflammatory arthritis claim is also remanded as it involves potential exposure in Southwest Asia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU effective February 13, 2006.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability has been remanded.,Service connection was granted for pseudofolliculitis barbae, and the issue of service connection for adjustment disorder with depressed mood (claimed as insomnia) prior to July 20, 2020 is also granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the purposes of special monthly compensation at the housebound rate is denied as there is no single service-connected disability that prevents him from securing and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis, lumbar spondylosis and radiculopathy, left lower extremity due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The appeals seeking service connection for a bilateral eye disability and bilateral hearing loss are dismissed. Service connection is granted for the Veteran's back condition, erectile dysfunction, and tinnitus.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of CFS and granted service connection for rhinitis, back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, and dermatitis. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to an insufficient medical opinion regarding the degree of functional loss during flare-ups at the time of the January 2011 and July 2012 VA examinations. The AOJ must obtain a new retrospective medical opinion from an appropriate examiner.