Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine and right shoulder disabilities, as well as his claim for diabetes. The reasons include a lack of corroborating evidence regarding service connection and conflicting medical records on the diagnosis of diabetes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the eligibility criteria for financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his ability to walk and use his extremities without significant aid.

The Board has remanded the cases for further clarification and examination of the Veteran's service-connected low back disability, right knee disability, and TDIU claim due to incomplete or unclear examination reports.

The claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded, and the claim of a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis is also remanded. The claims of entitlement to service connection for ED and PTSD are also remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a disability rating of 50 percent for migraine headaches has been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD and depression, a back disability, and a skin disorder other than pseudofolliculitis barbae due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are not fully addressed due to incomplete VA examinations. The issues must be remanded to afford the Veteran a new examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine spondylosis with degenerative arthritis and right lumbar radiculopathy, as well as his claim for a TDIU. The case must be remanded to obtain an adequate VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to inadequate development. The right lower extremity radiculopathy claim requires a VA examination, and the DDD involving the lumbosacral spine claim needs an addendum opinion regarding functional equivalent of ankylosis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip and low back disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's cervical spine, right arm radiculopathy, lumbar spine, right hip, and left hip disabilities are granted as service-connected.,His skin condition (chloracne) is denied as not being related to active service.

The Board has found that the development conducted does not comply with prior remand directives and has therefore ordered additional examinations and opinions to address issues related to sleep apnea and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's neck and back conditions, as well as the severity of his right wrist condition.

The Veteran's service-connected arthritic conditions have rendered her unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, and such impairment is permanent in nature.,An award of eligibility for SAH precludes a separate SHA grant due to the loss of use of both feet.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of heart disorder, diabetes mellitus, and degenerative disc disease due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not meet the criteria for a current disability.,Service connection has been granted for tinnitus, with the presumption of service connection due to its chronic nature and continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's lumbar condition is being remanded for further development due to a duty-to-assist error, including obtaining an addendum VA opinion and possibly a new examination.

The Veteran's midline low back scar is rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds no basis for a compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's income from VA compensation benefits is greater than the maximum annual pension rate (MAPR) for a single Veteran who is not housebound or in need of aid and attendance. Therefore, he cannot receive a nonservice-connected pension.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations and earlier effective dates for service connection were denied. The maximum schedular rating available for tinnitus is 10 percent, which the Veteran already has.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's spinal stenosis with DDD and bilateral lumbar radiculopathy should be remanded for further examination to determine if it is related to service or secondary to his service-connected knee and shoulder disabilities. The total disability rating due to individual unemployability issue is also being remanded.