Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, degenerative disc disease and spondylosis of the thoracolumbar spine, arthritis of the left knee, radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the lower extremities, and residual scarring from salivary gland surgery have all been denied. The effective dates for service connection grants are also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative arthritis from January 2011 to July 2018. The case will also be referred to the Director, Compensation Service, for extraschedular consideration of TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now pending. The issues of entitlement to service connection for degenerative disc disease, spinal spondylitis, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) remain on appeal.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed back disability, including whether it is related to service or pre-existed service.

The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his lumbosacral strain and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed. The Board found that the Veteran withdrew his appeals of right knee and right shoulder disorders, granted service connection for IBS, and remanded other issues due to lack of adequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's SMC claim is remanded as the VA has not conducted an examination to determine his daily personal assistance needs attributable solely to his service-connected disabilities. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating and an earlier effective date for his lumbar spine disability prior to November 13, 2014 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or an earlier effective date.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that there is no evidence linking her current condition to her military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back, neck, bilateral shoulder disabilities, and hypertension due to new evidence received since the last examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and right lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve were denied. The case was remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's hearing loss disabilities in both ears and low back disability are granted. The right knee disability is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the inextricability of his service connection claims for back and cervical spine conditions. The case will be held in abeyance until these issues are resolved.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been withdrawn and are dismissed. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened, but not granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected, and his head disability (TBI), neck disability, low back disability, heart disability, type 2 diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and erectile dysfunction are denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to missing medical records and uncorroborated in-service stressors. The VA is instructed to obtain additional records, including from SSA and private providers, and to schedule a PTSD examination if corroborated stressors are found.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations. The issues of service connection for various disabilities, including a left ankle disability, eye disability, thyroid disability, low back disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability (reopened), right knee disability, left knee disability, headaches, and hemorrhoids, are being addressed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of total knee arthroplasty of the bilateral knees and residuals of lumbar injury, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and low back disability. The claim for low back disability is remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and missing service treatment records.