Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability has been reopened and remanded.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and respiratory disorder have also been reopened and remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for joint pain due to undiagnosed illness and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis should be remanded for additional development.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to July 18, 2018, for service connection of left and right lower extremity radiculopathy and lumbosacral strain superimposed on degenerative joint and disc disease. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability evaluation for her lower back disability, which includes degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc syndrome, was denied. The Board found that the disability does not meet criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent after February 19, 2019.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the submission of a VA Form 10182, which was not appropriate for his legacy system appeals. The AOJ must issue an SOC and allow the Veteran to file a substantive appeal if he wishes to continue his appeal under the legacy appeals system.

The Veteran's request to reopen service connection for a mood disorder, polysubstance abuse (claimed as nervous condition and PTSD) has been granted. The evidence received since the last denial indicates that the Veteran was newly diagnosed with PTSD based on an in-service stressor.,The Veteran's request to reopen service connection for a back disability has also been granted. New medical records indicate a diagnosis of spondyloarthritis, which pertains to a prior evidentiary deficiency regarding a diagnosed disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including verification of herbicide exposure and VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than February 26, 2018 for the grant of service connection for PTSD, IBS, a back disability, radiculopathy (sciatic) of the left lower extremity (LLE), and tinnitus are all denied.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim for entitlement to service connection for a neck disability was denied. The issues of higher ratings for diabetes mellitus, type I; unspecified anxiety disorder; and lumbosacral spine intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative disc disease were remanded. The issue of TDIU was also remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and medical opinions are inadequate for determining the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions. The Veteran's service-connected left foot disability is believed to have caused or aggravated his current back, hip, and knee conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip arthritis, degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, and degenerative changes of the cervical spine. The Veteran's disabilities are deemed to be due to wear and tear during his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The skin disability, variously claimed as contact dermatitis and neck rash, was denied. Other conditions were either not granted or remanded for further review.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on four knee and back disabilities have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew all issues on appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's low back and tailbone disability, as well as his right lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to the low back disability, are granted. The Veteran is also awarded a separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected left knee osteoarthritis, right knee meniscal tear with osteoarthritis, and residuals of right ankle fracture.

The Board has dismissed all claims due to the Veteran's death before a decision could be made.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis status post lumbar laminectomy and intervertebral disc syndrome (lumbar spine disability), cervical spine degenerative arthritis with spinal stenosis, and bilateral knee chondrocalcinosis and degenerative arthritis. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service injury from a land mine explosion and continuous symptoms since service separation.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition, right knee condition, and left knee condition, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for cervical degenerative disc disease and for a compensable rating for traumatic brain injury has been dismissed due to the Veteran's wife requesting withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to a withdrawal of the appeal for readjudication of the previously denied claim of service connection for cocaine and cannabis abuse and major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder. The lumbar spine disability issue is now before the Board on its merits.