Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new VA treatment records and SSA records being associated with the claims file since the July 2018 remand. The issues of higher initial disability ratings for left knee disability, a lumbar strain, and entitlement to TDIU are now before the Board.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of his spine and bilateral hip conditions, finding that it is less likely than not that these conditions are due to or aggravated by his active duty service or by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's low back disability is not rated higher than 10 percent prior to June 19, 2012 and not rated higher than 20 percent thereafter. The appeal for TDIU was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection were not properly received until June 12, 2014. As such, an effective date earlier than June 12, 2014 is denied. The Board also found that there are issues with service connection for left knee and low back disabilities as well as a foot fungus disability which require further examination and opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, hepatitis C, prostate cancer, and tuberculosis. The appeals to reopen these claims were unsuccessful due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right hip, left hip, and back disabilities due to a lack of VA treatment records from September 2012.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for a left ankle disorder was denied as no new and material evidence had been received.,Service connection for sleep apnea was denied because there is no evidence of an in-service injury or a nexus between current sleep apnea and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his service-connected low back disability and for TDIU due to unclear examination reports from September 2019. The matter is being returned for clarification on whether repetitive motion testing was completed, and if so, its impact on forward flexion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for alopecia, migraine headaches, low back strain, right knee osteoarthritis with patellofemoral syndrome, and left foot pes planus with plantar fasciitis and left heel spur due to incomplete development of evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate development in previous examinations and opinions. The Veteran's right shoulder, low back, and respiratory conditions are all being reviewed again.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 22, 2007 for a 40 percent evaluation for his lumbar spine disability. The evidence did not show that the increase in disability was factually ascertainable before this date.

The Board has remanded the claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, as there was insufficient information provided by the RO when making the initial decision. The Veteran's employment prior to stopping work is also to be considered.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability with left lower extremity radiculopathy, finding that his current condition is more likely than not caused by an in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete records and need for further examinations. The Veteran's claims for service connection are not decided at this time.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected degenerative disc disease with invertebral disc syndrome and mechanical low back pain is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including a spinal disorder, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and a respiratory disability. The decision found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claims for service connection of a back condition and neck condition was granted. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD is also granted, with a rating of 70 percent.,Service connection for a back condition is granted as secondary to a service-connected right knee condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back, left hip, and left knee disabilities due to lack of a medical opinion linking these conditions to his military service. The same is true for his prostate and heart disabilities.

The Board has granted a TDIU rating effective from April 22, 2009, due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.