Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a back disability, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower and upper extremities as secondary to a back disability. The Veteran's Social Security Administration records are requested, and VA treatment records from Harborview Medical Center since 1998 are also sought.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the severity of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for left knee and low back disabilities, finding that the Veteran's conditions were not caused or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for an opinion on whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected sinusitis and/or lumbar strain. The examiner must clarify if the sinus condition aggravates the OSA.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus type II. The claim for gastroesophageal reflux disease is remanded, and the claim for a low back disability is also remanded.

The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis, effective December 30, 2014, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities made him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to December 14, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability, claimed as seborrheic dermatitis, has been reopened and granted. Service connection is also granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depressive disorder, and GAD) and a lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a separate disability of the back other than cervical strain and for left ring finger fracture, to include scarring, as secondary to service-connected cervical strain. The claim for increased rating for cervical strain was also denied.,There is no indication that any exposure basis (e.g., burn pit, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune) played a role in the Veteran's conditions.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection of a back condition due to lack of jurisdiction.,PTSD was granted with a rating of 70 percent, effective March 7, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and bilateral knee disabilities due to difficulties in contacting the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar spine disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on forward flexion greater than 30 degrees and pain with motion, but without any evidence of ankylosis or functional equivalent thereof.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and an eye injury due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial. The claims are now remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations.

The Veteran's back condition (degenerative arthritis, thoracolumbar spine with spinal stenosis) is not related to his military service and was denied. The issue of secondary service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for upper back, right shoulder, and left shoulder conditions are remanded due to inadequate examination and the need for additional medical records.

The appeals for service connection for the listed disabilities are dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims.

PTSD and allergic rhinitis have been granted with specific ratings.,Migraines, eczema (claimed as skin condition), sleep apnea, and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine remain pending issues.

The Board has granted service connection for various knee, hip, ankle, back, neck, and elbow disabilities. A 10 percent disability rating is also granted for headaches.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding records and inadequate prior examinations.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for service-connected low back disability, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as TDIU. The Veteran's claims are currently under review.

The Board has decided that the discontinuance of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective January 1, 2019 was proper. The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and low back disability are being remanded to issue a Statement of the Case.