Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability. The issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for low back disability, frostbite of bilateral hands, and frostbite of bilateral feet due to incomplete medical opinions based on the absence of treatment records without consideration of the Veteran's reports. The claims are being returned for additional development.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent effective July 30, 2012. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted effective the same date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of the required testing criteria. The issues include his service-connected lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies, and femoral radiculopathies.

The claims of service connection for low back disability, hearing loss disability, and sleep apnea have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a direct relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability and a disorder of the right testicle, to include epididymitis, hydrocele, and pain due to inadequate explanations in previous VA medical opinions. The Veteran needs further examinations and opinions regarding these claims.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim has been denied as his disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.,The left knee, right hip, left foot, and back disorder claims are remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for strain, thoracolumbar spine was increased to 20 percent effective March 1, 2013. The Board denied an increase in the rating beyond 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine condition and requests for updated VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae, sleep apnea, and sensorineural hearing loss. The Board also denied his requests for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20% since November 4, 2008. The rating for hemorrhoids remains noncompensable.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been rated based on their respective service-connected conditions.,Prior to January 26, 2015, the Veteran was denied higher ratings for his right and left lower extremity radiculopathies.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for tension headaches has been denied.,The claims for service connection for low back disability and right ankle disability are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for mild degenerative disc disease, thoracolumbar spine with mild compression fractures and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that these conditions are etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's initial rating for unspecified depressive disorder was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to June 19, 2019 and in excess of 50 percent thereafter.,The Veteran's back disability was also denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the cases due to an incomplete search for ship logs of the U.S.S. Hollister, which may have corroborated the Veteran's account of exposure to hazardous fumes resulting in his current disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back disability, left hip disability, and left leg disability due to incomplete service records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder and secondary service connection due to right hip disability. The Veteran needs another VA examination to provide these opinions.

The Veteran's initial claim for an initial rating of 10 percent for service-connected vaginitis was granted. The Board also remanded the issues regarding a left knee condition and a lower back condition, as well as their relationship to the left knee condition.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, and the Board has granted TDIU beginning January 9, 2014.