Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's low back condition is granted service connection. The left knee condition claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected back disability does not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, as his other disabilities do not render him unable to work. The TDIU claim is denied.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and obstructive sleep apnea. Service connection was granted for bilateral hearing loss. The Board also denied service connection for left leg sciatica.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain medical records and for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current spine, left knee, and right knee conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to new evidence or changes in her disability status.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, but the right foot disability claim was dismissed due to withdrawal. The Board also remanded cases regarding bilateral leg disabilities and back disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his lumbar spine, left knee, and GERD conditions. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective May 10, 2018. The Board has found that the evidence does not support a higher rating and has remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service connection for major depressive disorder is granted. The issues of initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD, and initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for lumbar stenosis prior to January 31, 2018; and a rating in excess of 20 percent thereafter are remanded.

The appeals for service connection for diabetes and a cardiac disorder are dismissed. Service connection for sleep apnea is granted, but the Veteran's TDIU appeal remains pending.

The Board dismissed the appeals for increased ratings for GERD and a lumbosacral spine disability due to the Veteran's withdrawal of those appeals prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and depression were denied. The Veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for lumbar disc degeneration status post fusion, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome. The Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, disability ratings in excess of 50 percent for sleep apnea with insomnia, and disability ratings in excess of 10 percent for hypertension were denied.,The Veteran was not granted service connection for right ear hearing loss or erectile dysfunction. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected low back disability. The effective date claim for radiculopathy is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and right shoulder disability due to a lack of credible evidence supporting these conditions as being related to military service.

Service connection for major depressive disorder has been restored effective January 1, 2018.,The claims of service connection for back disability and right knee disability are still pending and will be remanded.

The Board has found that an earlier effective date for the increased ratings of low back and neck disabilities is not warranted, as there was no ascertainable increase in disability prior to March 29, 2017. The case is now REMANDED due to the Veteran's failure to receive a Statement of the Case regarding his claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability has been reopened and remanded due to the submission of new evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's initial and increased ratings for his lumbar spine disorder are denied, but he is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected low back strain disability necessitates the use of a low back brace, but there is no clinical or lay evidence showing that this brace causes wear and tear to his clothing. As such, he does not meet the criteria for an annual VA clothing allowance.

The Veteran's lumbar spine condition, sciatic nerve involvement of the lower extremities, and bowel dysfunction are being remanded for further development as they may be related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. Additional VA examinations will be scheduled to assess the current severity of these conditions.