Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for a neck disability is granted. The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for low back pain is denied.

The Board denied the applications to reopen claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and a gastrointestinal disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for his thoracolumbar spine disability due to insufficient evidence and need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his condition, including during flare-ups and with range of motion testing. Updated VA treatment records are also needed.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the other issues due to incomplete rationale in the VA examination reports.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lower back and eye disabilities, as well as bilateral knee and foot disabilities. The claims are being returned to VA for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in a previous VA examination and the need for updated treatment records. A new VA examination is required to determine if the Veteran's current low back disability is related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lower back condition and a right hip condition secondary to the Veteran's service-connected residuals of right knee arthroscopic surgery. The claim is remanded for further development regarding the rating for the right knee.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder was denied, but reopened due to new evidence. The Board found no current disability and the preponderance of evidence is against finding that the condition began during service or is related to an in-service injury.,Service connection for sinusitis was also denied as there was no evidence showing it began during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for serous otitis media, right wrist disorder, low back disorder, and right knee condition are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for low back disability, peripheral neuropathy, and PTSD have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a relationship between the disabilities and service or any presumptive exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective October 8, 2008. The Board found that the Veteran was unable to maintain gainful employment due to his service-connected lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy prior to this date.

The Board granted the Veteran a TDIU based on his service-connected lumbar spine disability and hearing loss, which prevented him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation. The decision also addressed an increased rating for the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for a back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, borderline personality disorder, and anxiety, is granted. The petition to reopen the claim of service connection for a stomach disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a new VA examination to evaluate the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lower back disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity involving the femoral nerve, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity involving the sciatic nerve, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity involving the femoral nerve, osteoarthritis of the right knee, osteoarthritis of the left knee, and tinnitus, render him unable to obtain substantial gainful employment. As a result, the Veteran's claim for TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's claim for reopening the previously denied service connection for low back strain was granted, and he is now entitled to a compensable evaluation for his left shoulder disability.,An effective date of May 25, 2012, was assigned for the grant of service connection for residuals of rotator cuff tear with degenerative arthritis (left shoulder disability).

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, cervical spine disability, migraine headaches, and neurological disabilities of the upper extremities have been granted service connection. The Veteran has also received increased ratings for his migraine headaches and a TDIU effective July 2014.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for her service-connected neck, right upper extremity, thigh, shoulder, and thoracic spine disabilities have been denied. The evidence does not support a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb sprain, service connection for a low back disorder, and service connection for a right knee disorder are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.