Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disability, bilateral upper extremity neurological impairment, back disability, allergic rhinitis, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and/or an eating disorder), and cervical dysplasia with HPV. The reasons include lack of continuity of symptomatology since service, no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions, and the absence of positive nexus opinions.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU and DEA was granted effective December 1, 2003. The Board found that the Veteran met the schedular criteria for TDIU from this date.

The Board has remanded the claims for a low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to issues with character of discharge and new evidence submission.

The Veteran's tinnitus and acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder with secondary alcohol use disorder, are granted. Bilateral hearing loss and a back disability remain pending as they were remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have begun during active service and thus service connection is granted.,Service connection for hypertension cannot be established as the evidence does not support a finding that it began or was aggravated by active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including low back disorder, coronary artery disease, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, and discoid lupus erythematosus. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further development.,Specifically, the AOJ is instructed to verify whether the Veteran served at Anderson Air Force Base in Guam and if the USS Proteus was stationed there during his service period.

The Veteran's petition to reopen service connection for headaches has been granted. The Board has remanded the claims of increased ratings and earlier effective dates for his left shoulder disability.

The Board found that the AOJ properly discontinued a separate 10% evaluation for thoracic spine injury residuals, as it was not appropriate to have separate evaluations for these conditions. The decision is based on CUE in the July 2004 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbosacral strain and an acquired psychiatric disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

Your appeal has been dismissed as you have opted into the modernized review system.

The Veteran's depression is rated at 100 percent, and service connection for low back pain, sleep apnea, migraines are granted. The claim for an initial compensable disability rating for allergic rhinitis is denied.

The Board has restored the previously assigned disability ratings for cervical and thoracolumbar spine arthritis from 30% to 10%, finding that the reduction was improper due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis, and lumbar spondylosis with myelopathy, is granted an initial 50 percent rating since May 14, 2001. His right and left lower extremity radiculopathies are each granted initial 40 percent ratings since May 14, 2001.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting opinions and a need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for ankylosing spondylitis of the cervical spine, lumbar spine, and bilateral hip condition due to in-service infections or exposure to herbicide agents. The AOJ must obtain a new medical opinion addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's disability rating for intervertebral disc syndrome, degenerative disc disease, degenerative joint disease with levoscoliosis, lumbar strain, spinal stenosis, and spondylolisthesis was increased to 40 percent prior to July 31, 2020. From that date onwards, the rating remains at 40 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ankle, bilateral hip, bilateral knee, and back disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in previous decisions. The case is being returned to obtain new examinations.

The Veteran's request to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is denied.,Prior to December 5, 2019, the Veteran's lumbar spine DJD with DDD disability was not rated higher than 10 percent. The case is remanded for further examination and rating consideration.,The Veteran's entitlement to a TDIU is also remanded due to its inextricably intertwined nature with the increased rating claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for thoracolumbar spine disability and degenerative disc disease of the neck due to outstanding records from service treatment, including inpatient care. The Veteran will be afforded VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracolumbar spine degenerative changes. The issues of service connection for hypertension and a bilateral eye disability are remanded due to outstanding medical records.