Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus and degenerative changes are currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and an acquired psychiatric disorder are both denied as secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's low back condition and its relationship to service. The Veteran contends that his current back issues are related to an injury he sustained while working on a flight line for B-52s during service, but there is conflicting medical evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, a back condition, residuals of TBI, and headaches. The decision found that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of fibromyalgia or any other claimed conditions during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical opinion and issues regarding credibility of lay statements. The Veteran's preexisting back disorder is alleged to have been aggravated by service, but there are conflicting opinions in the record.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cervical spine disability. The VA examiner was asked to address whether the Veteran's current cervical spine disability is related to service, but did not consider his lay statements about symptoms since service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, hypertension, respiratory disability (asthma and COPD), back disability, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, headache disability, polymyalgia rheumatica, rheumatoid arthritis, and voiding dysfunction are not service-connected. The claims for these conditions have been remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with spondylolisthesis L5-S1.

The Board has remanded several claims for increased ratings and TDIU, including those related to the Veteran's low back disability, right knee disability, right ankle disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports and the need for new VA examinations.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which compensation is payable for tooth loss. The remaining issues of rating and TDIU are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's hepatitis B was not shown to be related to service, and the Board denied this claim.,Service connection for benign prostate hypertrophy (claimed as enlarged prostate) was also denied because there is no evidence of a current disability or relationship to service.,The Veteran's esophageal reflux was not linked to his service, and thus denial of this claim.,For cervical spine condition and lumbar area pain, the Board found insufficient evidence linking these conditions to service. The claims were therefore denied.,There is no indication that the low back disability is related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for epilepsy and sinus tachycardia have been dismissed due to her withdrawal from appeal. The remaining issues of service connection, rating, and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy and other service-connected conditions have been granted increased ratings, and a TDIU has been granted for the period from June 10, 2011 to April 22, 2013. The case is remanded for additional development.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities from October 13, 2010, but no earlier. The TDIU is granted on an extraschedular basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his low back condition, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence to show that his preexisting back condition worsened during service. The Board also noted that the Veteran did not have any permanent or chronic conditions after treatment of in-service complaints.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete development, including the need for updated private medical records and an orthopedic VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to procedural errors in previous decisions, including issues with timeliness of notices and obtaining STRs from the Veteran's period of active duty for training. The claims are now pending again.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for various conditions due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his appeal by his representative.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as cervical degenerative disc disease, all secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for various disabilities as they are not currently in a position to make decisions due to the Veteran's death.