Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and Meniere's syndrome are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection of a low back disability and an acquired psychiatric disability due to new evidence. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for his service-connected low back disability is denied as he does not meet the schedular criteria and there is no evidence that his disability alone prevents him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the waiver of recovery of overpayment and service connection for back condition, leaving only the dismissal of the waiver claim.

The Veteran's IBS is rated at the maximum schedular rating. The Board has denied a higher rating for IBS, and has remanded the issues of service connection for lumbar spine disability with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and fatigue syndrome, to include CFS.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's claims for right foot and chest pain disabilities. The left shoulder disability is granted with service connection established. The low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's bilateral flat feet and associated back disability are rated at 50% and 20%, respectively, warranting a combined rating of 70%. The Veteran is granted TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a back disorder, including cervical and lumbar spine disabilities. The Veteran's service records show neck pain in November 1968, but no current diagnosis or connection between his service and these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension due to herbicide exposure. The back and hip disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened and is being remanded.,An effective date earlier than January 6, 2015 for the evaluation of generalized anxiety disorder is denied.,An effective date earlier than January 6, 2015 for the evaluation of left lower extremity sciatica is denied.,The reduction in disability rating for ischemic heart disease from 60 to 30 percent was proper and remains valid.,A compensable disability rating for COPD prior to July 19, 2018 is denied. A 10% disability rating for COPD from July 19, 2018 is granted.,An effective date earlier than January 6, 2015 for the evaluation of hypertension is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support an in-service injury or aggravation and that any current condition is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the current severity of his service-connected conditions, specifically his degenerative changes of the left knee, mechanical low back pain with degenerative changes of the thoracolumbar spine, and PTSD. The issues include seeking increased ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's back condition is rated at 40 percent from November 24, 2014. The rating is denied for a higher rating as the evidence does not show unfavorable ankylosis or forward flexion to less than 30 degrees.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches and vertigo, have rendered her unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to March 27, 2019. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to these conditions.

The Veteran's right and left foot hallux valgus, as well as other service-connected conditions, have been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 30 percent since September 22, 2009. The Board has granted a higher rating for these conditions.,TDIU is granted effective September 22, 2009, based on the Veteran's service-connected orthopedic disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the current level of severity of the Veteran's back disability, as the previous decision relied on inadequate medical evidence.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for his lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, cholesterol condition, back condition, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's claims were not granted due to lack of in-service incurrence or nexus.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a lumbosacral or cervical strain, claiming as back soreness. The Veteran did not meet the threshold requirements for hearing loss under VA regulations and there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to his claimed conditions.

The Board denied a separate disability rating for bladder dysfunction secondary to service-connected low back strain, citing evidence that the Veteran's symptoms were not related to her service-connected condition.