Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea, migraine headaches, lumbar spine disorder, left-hand fifth finger disorder, and bilateral pterygium, have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since February 22, 2016. As his combined rating is at least 80%, he meets the schedular requirement for a TDIU.

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for right great toe injury and left Achilles tendonitis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for an updated VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied in July 2004, and new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim. The effective date of service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, right shoulder disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy is set at July 21, 2011.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for psoriasis, GERD, chronic sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and right knee disability are denied. The effective date of service connection for presbyopia with hypermetropia, astigmatism, and pinguecula is set at July 21, 2011.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a procedural issue where the Veteran did not receive an extension of time to submit additional evidence as requested in his response to the Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Veteran's hypertension is granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide agent exposure. The left knee, bilateral thumb condition, low back condition, and left foot condition are all remanded for further examination and opinion. Service connection for GERD is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from July 17, 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's cases due to a lack of VA examination for lumbosacral strain and right knee strain, which were previously denied increased ratings. The Veteran was not provided with an appropriate VA examination as scheduled.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lung disability, back disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, and right wrist disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development of the record.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability. Another VA examination is needed to provide a legally adequate opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete service treatment records, which may contain information about the onset of the Veteran's right hip and back conditions during his military service.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for headaches (also claimed as head injury, concussion) has been granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a back condition (also claimed as low back condition/injury) is remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine strain with degenerative changes and L1 compression fracture is granted a 20 percent disability rating prior to June 1, 2022. The appeal for higher ratings on this condition remains pending. Other conditions are either denied or have been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 1, 2022.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective date determinations due to new evidence being added to his file. The issues include an increased rating for lumbar strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, an increased rating for hemorrhoids, and a determination of an effective date for the 10 percent rating for hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various joint disabilities, including right shoulder glenohumeral degenerative arthritis, left shoulder glenohumbral degenerative arthritis, bilateral hand osteoarthritis, and bilateral knee, wrist, back, elbow, and hip disabilities manifested by pain are granted. The claim for secondary service connection for hypertension is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to new evidence being added to the record. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for low back strain is on hold until this process is completed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service treatment records and issues related to the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, including its potential pre-service origin and aggravation during periods of active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and lumbar disc herniation, finding that it had its onset during service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for right ear hearing loss is denied as his current condition does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability under VA regulations.,For lumbar strain with DDD, a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to September 27, 2022, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter is denied. The Veteran's claim is based on direct service connection.