Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the cases of obstructive sleep apnea, dental condition, hypertension, left eye disability, low back disability, esophageal hernia, and cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment consistent with his educational or occupational background for the entire period on appeal prior to August 31, 2012. The Board granted a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back and bilateral knee disorders.

The Veteran's back disability is granted with a noncompensable rating, and his bilateral plantar foot warts are granted an initial 10 percent rating.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing loss did not manifest within one year of separation from service and is not etiologically related to service. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for a back disability.,For the back disability, the Board found insufficient evidence in the November 2022 VA examination to determine if it was incurred or caused by military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for lower back disability and bilateral foot disability due to inadequate VA opinions and outstanding private medical records.

The Board has denied service connection for a low back disability and remanded the issues of service connection for left foot and right foot disabilities. The decision does not provide specific ratings or effective dates.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is rated at 40 percent from August 25, 2020 to November 2, 2022. Prior to that date, the condition was rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete development and the need for additional medical opinions regarding his low back disability, urinary symptoms, and erectile dysfunction. The issues of a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected low back disability prior to April 7, 2006, and entitlement to TDIU prior to that date are also being remanded.

The Veteran's previously denied claim of service connection for spina bifida and lumbarization of S1 has been reopened.,Service connection is granted for a chronic disability manifested by sleep impairment, but the Veteran does not have a separate diagnosis of a chronic sleep disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional VA opinions to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lower back disability, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right shoulder disability. The issues are being returned due to inconsistencies in previous opinions and the need for clarification on service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee disorder and granted service connection for a low back disorder. The right knee disorder is not related to service, while the low back disorder had its onset in service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine has been denied. The effective dates for separate ratings of 20 percent for partial transverse myelitis and radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities have also been granted.

The appeals for service connection and new evidence were dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for asthma, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a back disability due to incomplete STRs and inadequate VA examinations. The claims are also remanded for further development regarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his low back disability is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error and the need for a new examination.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar back, right knee, and left knee disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and to obtain updated VA treatment records. The issues include seeking higher ratings for his lumbar spine and left lower extremity conditions, as well as a TDIU claim.

The Veteran's diabetes is granted due to herbicide exposure. The claims for service connection of left ankle, peripheral neuropathy (upper and lower extremities), back disability, right shoulder, left shoulder, right ankle, right knee, and left knee disabilities are all granted.