Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for depression, bilateral pes planus (claimed as bilateral feet), and low back disorder due to insufficient evidence in some cases. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and a psychiatric disorder (claimed as a sleep disorder). The case is remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding radiculopathy of the lower extremities and headache disorder.

The Veteran's right knee instability is rated separately from April 26, 2022, but no earlier. The issue of a higher rating for the disability remains pending.,Other issues related to the Veteran's right ankle and lumbosacral strain are still under review.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities are being remanded due to the need for updated medical records and examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, pes planus of the left foot, pes planus of the right foot, chronic bronchitis, and low back disability. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions began during or are otherwise related to active service.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,The Veteran's headaches, neck disorder, back disorder, heart disorder, hypertension, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), anxiety, insomnia, sleep disturbances, and depression are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for lumbosacral strain, cervical strain, left knee arthritis with internal derangement, right upper and lower extremity radiculopathy have all been denied.,Specifically, the criteria for a higher rating were not met for each condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral pes planus and remanded the issue of an initial disability rating for lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have combined to prevent her from securing and maintaining gainful employment since May 13, 2018. The Board has granted a TDIU effective that date.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected disabilities and for a lumbar spine disability. The claims are remanded for further action regarding the Veteran's claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluation, SMC due to need for regular aid and attendance, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The claims are being remanded for further development including obtaining additional medical evidence and providing a retrospective opinion on the severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine condition prior to February 19, 2011, and since that date.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, and left knee disabilities. However, the appeal is remanded for further action on claims for osteopenia, migraine headaches, an acquired psychiatric disability, a left shoulder disability, and a right knee disability.,Service connection is established for tinnitus due to its presumptive association with service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Gulf War.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, and the Board has remanded his claim for a back disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right knee, and left knee conditions due to a lack of current diagnoses or evidence of functional loss constituting disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip and foot disabilities, which are alleged to be secondary to her already service-connected bilateral knee disability. The VA will conduct further examinations to determine if these conditions are related to her active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance as they do not cause anatomical loss or use of both feet, blindness in both eyes with visual acuity of 5/200 or less, permanent bedridden status, or being so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance.

The claims of service connection for low back disability, residuals of right arm burn, and left knee disability have been granted. The Veteran's right arm burn is considered direct service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and bilateral pes planus, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not originate in or were otherwise related to his active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's applications to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for low back and bilateral knee disabilities, finding that new and material evidence was not received.