Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for her service-connected back disability was granted effective May 24, 2017. The decision does not address the earlier date of claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability, finding that his current condition is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to his military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right foot disability, left foot disability, psychiatric disorder, dental disability, and back disability are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings are remanded due to inadequate examinations and new evidence is needed. The issues include lumbar strain, right hip strain (impairment), right knee strain, left knee status post ACL repair and arthroscopy, and TDIU.

The Veteran's right knee DJD has been rated at 10 percent since February 1, 2011, through October 5, 2016. The Board denied a higher rating as the evidence did not show limitation of motion consistent with a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and lack of verification regarding combat incidents in Germany. The Veteran is requested to provide information about his combat experiences during service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional VA examinations to determine the severity of his service-connected disabilities throughout the entire appeal period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate examination reports and incomplete medical records. The Veteran is required to provide additional information regarding his employment status, complete VA Form 21-8940, and undergo retrospective findings from an appropriate clinician.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and a lumbar spine disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding whether these conditions are related to active service, particularly given the Veteran's service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. The claims will be further evaluated with additional medical examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, requiring a new one to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's service connection for OSA as secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disorder is granted. The appeal seeking restoration of a 20% rating for lumbar spine disorder, effective May 1, 2018, is also granted.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disability and has determined that there is at least equipoise evidence in favor of the Veteran's claim, finding his lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes was related to service. The rating assigned and effective date are not specified.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of left knee and bilateral hip disorders. The remaining issues have been remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for low back, neck, and foot disabilities. The Veteran's current conditions are deemed to have been incurred during his military service.

The Board has granted an effective date of June 30, 2016 for a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's back disability. The claim for increased rating is granted as it meets the criteria for a higher rating since that date. However, the claim for TDIU was denied due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities not meeting the threshold requirement.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for low back disability and right leg numbness due to lack of VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and lack of contemporaneous medical records.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as he passed away during their pendency.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the complexity of his medical history and the need for further examination to differentiate between symptoms attributable to his left ankle disability and other service-connected or non-service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD and lumbosacral strain are granted service connection. The issue of an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for major depressive disorder is remanded.