Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the provided opinions are inadequate and remands the case for additional examinations to determine the nature and causes of the Veteran's claimed lumbar spine, bilateral hip, and bilateral ankle conditions.

The Veteran's claim for headaches as secondary to service-connected major depressive disorder and tinnitus was granted. The effective dates for the grants of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, right hip strain with degenerative changes, right hip thigh impairment, left hip degenerative changes, and left hip thigh impairment were all set at April 13, 2010.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding obesity, right knee condition, right shoulder condition, and low back condition. The Veteran's representative asserts that his asthma causes or aggravates these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and psychiatric disorder due to additional evidentiary development being needed.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and remanded the issue of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration due to outstanding medical records from a correctional facility where the Veteran was incarcerated. The right shoulder disability is also being remanded as secondary to the low back disability.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, effective May 30, 2013. The Board finds the Veteran unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis was denied. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression, was also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back condition and bilateral foot/ankle condition due to outstanding records, including service treatment records. The AOJ is also directed to obtain VA Choice Program private treatment records and attempt to locate any missing service treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has been dismissed as he withdrew all remaining issues associated with his appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a low back disability and gynecological disability (including hysterectomy and its residuals) have been granted. The rating for migraine headaches has been denied.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for low back pain muscle spasm, periscapular muscle myofascitis of the left shoulder, and bilateral foot bunions due to potential missing service treatment records from Germany. The VA is instructed to obtain these records and provide additional opinions regarding the relationship between the disabilities and service.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability and upper extremity radiculopathy were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, low back disability, and swollen glands due to lack of examination.

The Veteran's low back disability with left foot drop is rated at 60 percent, effective April 25, 2022.

The Board denied service connection for anxiety disorder and sleep apnea, but granted service connection for degenerative disc disease. The Veteran's back condition is related to an injury during a period of INACDUTRA.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of lumbosacral strain, left hand/thumb condition, and left hip condition due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has dismissed the issue of whether withholding of retroactive VA compensation effective March 2008 to January 2012 was proper. The issues of service connection for a left eye disability, initial disability rating for lumbar spine disability in excess of 10 percent prior to November 29, 2010; and in excess of 20 percent thereafter, initial disability rating for left shoulder disability in excess of 20 percent, and initial disability rating for right foot disability in excess of 10 percent are all remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for headaches has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show characteristic prostrating attacks averaging one in two months, which is required for a 10% rating under DC 8100. The claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, groin injury residuals, and erectile dysfunction are remanded due to inadequate development.

Service connection granted for lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and IVDS. Service connection denied for migraine headaches.,Service connection granted for left knee patella tendonitis with a rating of 30 percent. Service connection denied for right shoulder impingement syndrome with degenerative arthritis status-post SLAP repair.