Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of a dependency allowance has been withdrawn. The appeal for service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, IVDS and strain is granted. Restoration of the 40 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically addressing whether it is at least likely as not related to his Reserve and National Guard service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran's back pain and nasal fracture during service are under review.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his degenerative changes of the lumbar spine is remanded due to insufficient information about flare-ups during previous examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional examinations and opinions to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, low back pain, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for headaches.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, finding that there was no direct or secondary service connection based on lack of evidence showing a link between his military service and his current condition.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension, allergies (including allergic rhinitis), a low back disability, and a left wrist disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee and back conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current low back disability is related to his service as a loadmaster, which required heavy lifting. The VA examiner needs to provide an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran’s current low back disability and address the conflicting private medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of back, left knee, and right knee disabilities have been granted. The claim for service connection of a left ankle disability has also been granted. However, the Board has found that further development is needed to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and bilateral pes planus was granted. Service connection for bilateral pes planus is granted as the pre-existing condition worsened during service.,Service connection for heart disorder is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability within one year post-service, and no medical opinion linking it to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the following conditions: bilateral foot disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), back disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral eye disability. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The claims for service connection of a back condition and left knee condition have been reopened. The Board has remanded the cases to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including residuals of a spinal tap, neuropathy of the lower extremities, low back disability, and cysts, as there was no evidence to support their occurrence during service or their relationship to service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine if it is related to his service-connected left knee disability and whether the disability was aggravated by that condition.

The appeal for service connection for ischemic heart disease, bilateral foot disability restoration, and TDIU is dismissed. The appeals for increased ratings for various spinal disabilities, sensory deficits of the right shoulder and forearm, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and left leg sensory deficit are withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various disabilities, including lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease secondary to bilateral knee disability. The Veteran is seeking a determination on whether his lumbar strain with DDD is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected back disability is denied as the evidence does not show that he has unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, which would warrant a higher 50% evaluation. The current 40% rating adequately compensates him based on limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records from his Air Force service and to provide him with a VA examination for his acquired psychiatric disorder, skin disorders, back disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, and polyneuropathy. The claims are being remanded due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for myofascial pain syndrome of the lumbar spine with degenerative disc disease was denied. The rating prior to August 28, 2006 is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. For the period from August 28, 2006 onwards, the Veteran's claim is also denied as there are no incapacitating episodes of significant duration and no evidence of ankylosis.