Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, sinusitis, headaches, acid reflux, esophagitis, thyroid, and abdominal hernia have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her appeal.,Service connection has been granted for lumbar spine DDD, sciatica of the bilateral lower extremities, left hip osteoarthritis, and bilateral knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left ankle disability and posttraumatic headaches, have led to his inability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has ordered further development of the employment history and requested information from SSA.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the nature, severity, and etiology of her claimed conditions. The issues include service connection for bilateral hearing loss, evaluation of low back disability, migraine headaches, and hypothyroidism.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the old or new rating criteria.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and left knee disability can be adjudicated.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his back disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year after discharge. The current disability is not related to any in-service injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities prior to June 5, 2012, or due to a single service-connected disability thereafter, as his education and work history did not show that any of his service-connected conditions rendered him unemployable.

The Board has remanded the case due to a flawed VA medical opinion and insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's back condition during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not contribute to or cause his accidental fall from a tree.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to May 18, 2007. The Board granted entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis effective from May 18, 2007.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back arthritis, low back strain, bilateral shoulder arthritis, bilateral knee arthritis, and bilateral hip strain, including as a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness (MUCMI), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The claims are being returned to VA for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation due to housebound status or need for aid and attendance is remanded. The Board finds it necessary to obtain a VA neurology examination to determine the etiology of left foot drop, which may affect eligibility for these benefits. Additionally, a new VA aid and attendance examination is needed.

The Board denied service connection for back and neck disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for left upper extremity neuropathy and right upper extremity neuropathy, as well as an increased rating for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine. The Veteran's conditions were not found to be related to his service-connected bilateral shoulder impingement.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition is granted as secondary to his service-connected orthopedic conditions. Various issues of service connection and disability ratings are also granted or remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and remanded the issue of service connection for migraines.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and inadequate VA examinations. The AOJ is required to obtain all relevant private treatment records, including those from VistA Imaging, and provide new VA medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back condition and bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral hip disability, and lumbar spine disability. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service injuries and his current diagnoses.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right shoulder condition, low back disability, right knee condition, and high blood pressure due to new evidence added to the record.