Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral arthritis and hernia have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to make a determination on these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with previous instructions and a need for further medical opinion regarding service connection for a lumbar disc disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability, neck disability, left arm disability, MDD, PTSD, and OSA. The conditions are all found to be related to the Veteran's active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and potential issues with pre-existing conditions. Additional evidence is needed, including VA treatment records and an addendum medical opinion.

The appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for a low back condition is denied.,The claims for service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and left ankle conditions are remanded.,The claim for service connection for acid reflux (GERD) is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip, back, and right knee disabilities. The conditions are deemed to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection of right lower extremity radiculopathy and increased rating for major right shoulder disability are denied. The Veteran was not granted these benefits until March 17, 2017.,For the psychiatric disability, the Veteran received a grant of increased ratings from June 2, 2021 onwards.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 70 percent rating. Service connection for his low back disability, left and right knee strains are remanded due to new evidence received since the last denial.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 21, 2022. The Board has found that the evidence is in at least approximate balance and any remaining reasonable doubt is resolved in favor of the Veteran. TDIU is granted prior to October 21, 2022.

The Veteran's service-connected back and skin disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, adjustment disorder and anxiety, and a low back disability have been remanded due to the need to verify in-service stressors and obtain additional medical opinions.,New evidence has been received that may support the Veteran's claims, including buddy statements regarding his mental health after service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck disability, left leg disability (excluding shin splints), right leg disability (excluding shin splints), right arm disability, and left arm disability due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The AOJ is instructed to address all submitted evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that the evidence supports a grant of entitlement to this condition due to in-service injury and continued symptoms since service.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is currently rated at 20 percent and this rating is granted. The Board also found that a higher rating is not warranted for his right lower extremity radiculopathy.,The Veteran's degenerative lumbar spine disease with spinal stenosis is remanded to determine if the Veteran has experienced functional equivalent of ankylosis, which would affect his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's service-connected back condition has rendered him unable to secure or maintain gainful employment, and the Board grants a TDIU based on this condition.

The Veteran's back condition is granted service connection.,A compensable initial rating for dermatitis (claimed as skin condition of head and neck) is denied. However, a 60 percent disability rating for dermatitis from October 30, 2018, is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and lumbar spine conditions, have rendered him permanently housebound since April 7, 2018. The Board has granted an effective date of April 7, 2018 for SMC based on his housebound status.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for back disorder, bilateral foot disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, headache disorder, and traumatic brain injury due to new evidence received after previous decisions.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease, right ankle sprain, right wrist sprain, left lower extremity varicose veins, lumbar spine condition, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and tension headaches.

A non-initial disability rating of 50 percent for migraine headaches is granted, effective February 7, 2017.,From February 7, 2017 to January 22, 2020, a non-initial disability rating of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain and arthritis is granted. From January 23, 2020 forward, the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral strain is denied.