Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's generalized body aches with tender points, bilateral pes planus disability, and degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine are all granted as service connected.

Prior to March 21, 2017, the Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent and denied a higher rating.,From March 21, 2017, the Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent and denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's lumbar strain was rated at 10 percent and denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's coronary artery disease (CAD) was rated at 30 percent and denied a higher rating.,The Veteran was granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has determined that there have been substantial compliance issues with the previous remand directives and thus, the case is being returned to the VA for further development.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder was denied for a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to May 22, 2019. Ratings of 10 percent were granted for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy from May 15, 2014. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbar spine disorder was denied after May 22, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of a lumbar spine disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence showing diagnoses not present at previous denials.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar disability is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the April 2019 VA examination. The case will be returned for an adequate medical examination.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 60 percent for ischemic heart disease was denied as the evidence did not show congestive heart failure, left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction less than 30%, or more than one episode of acute congestive heart failure in the past year.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back disability was denied as there is no credible evidence linking his current condition to his period of active service.

The Board has vacated its previous decisions on several service connection claims and remanded them for further review.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claims for service connection for thoracic back disability and right ankle disability have been remanded due to new evidence received since the April 2019 rating decision.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative joint disease with lumbar disc herniation is currently rated at 40 percent, and his peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities are each rated at 40 percent. The claims for increased evaluations have been denied.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right foot plantar fascitis, left foot plantar fascitis, sciatica, rhinitis, sinusitis, and headaches as the evidence does not support a current disability.,The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The Veteran's right and left knee arthropathy and degenerative arthritis, as well as his right and left elbow tendinitis, lumbosacral arthralgia, L5-S1 paracentral disc protrusion, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) are all granted.,Service connection is established for the Veteran's claimed conditions based on their relationship to in-service injuries or stressors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need to correct pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors and obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 3, 2013 for a TDIU due to the implicit denial of her TDIU claim in the June 2009 SOC and the finality of that decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to duty-to-assist errors and requests for additional evidence, including service personnel records and a VA examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee and back conditions, finding that new evidence submitted since the last denial supports these claims. The Board determined that there is a reasonable possibility that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active service.

The Board dismissed the appeals due to the appellant's death, and no service connection was established for either condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for ratings of mood disorder, right knee instability, and lumbosacral strain as the appellant died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it had its onset in service.,The Veteran's right little finger metacarpal fracture did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating due to lack of ankylosis or functional impairment akin to amputation.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen his PTSD claim is granted. The Board finds that the submitted evidence raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim, as it includes statements describing additional stressor events in service and newspaper clippings confirming one such event. However, further development is needed for the other issues due to lack of STRs.