Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back, left hip, and right hip disabilities as they are related to his active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for low back and neck disabilities, but denied the Veteran's claims for PTSD and left knee disability due to lack of timely filing of a substantive appeal.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 20 percent from January 23, 2009 to June 16, 2016.,A rating in excess of 20 percent for the back disability is denied after June 16, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee disability, left elbow disability, lumbar spine disability, and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced in favor of the Veteran's claims.

The Board has determined that additional evidence needs to be obtained before the claims can be fully adjudicated. This includes obtaining audiogram results from VA treatment records and reviewing all new evidence submitted since the last decisions.

The Board has remanded the claims for muscle aches, respiratory disability, skin disorder (pseudofolliculitis barbae), acquired psychiatric disability, and lumbar spine disability due to inadequate development. The Veteran's service connection claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and his peripheral neuropathy and radiculopathy of the lower extremities are each rated at 20 percent. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and back disorder are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service. The appeal for these conditions is remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing all relevant factors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability due to inadequate medical opinion and need for further development.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for further development and evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is not service-connected as it did not manifest in service and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology. The Board also found that the current low back disability is more likely related to natural aging process rather than service.

The Veteran's claim for a 20 percent rating for DDD of the lumbar spine has been granted, effective from September 29, 2011. The TDIU claim was denied.

The Veteran's Raynaud's Syndrome is granted a 10% disability rating, effective February 7, 2020. The Veteran's back disability remains at a 20% disability rating. Effective November 16, 2013, the Veteran is granted TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient post-service medical records and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's clinical records from the Allentown VAMC need to be obtained, and a clinician will provide opinions on whether the low back disorder and right shoulder disorder began in service.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and saliva gland condition due to lack of compliance with previous remands. The Veteran's exposure to radiation during service is being evaluated for its potential impact on his current conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability. The claims for OSA, an acquired psychiatric disability, and a chronic migraine headache are remanded due to insufficient opinions in the VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and lumbar spine disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions. The cases are being sent back for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding service treatment records not being obtained. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, lumbosacral strain, bilateral hearing loss, cervical strain, PTSD, and a right lower extremity sciatic nerve disorder.

The Board denied service connection for various orthopedic and ocular conditions, as well as COPD or other pulmonary disability. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a direct link to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further action regarding service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and an initial disability rating for degenerative disc disease status-post anterior fusion of L2-S1. Specifically, the Board requests clarification on whether the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam, and orders a VA examination to assess the severity of his degenerative disc disease.