Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back, right hip, right knee and bilateral lower leg disabilities due to the Veteran's sworn testimony about his injuries during parachuting in service. A VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims for back, right hip, right leg, right ankle, and bilateral foot disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions and need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the disability rating for hypertension from 20 percent to 10 percent, effective May 24, 2012, was improper and has restored the original rating of 20 percent. The claims for increased ratings for hypertension, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral flat feet are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee, left knee, and lumbar spine disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent, effective from October 24, 2018. The Board denied a higher rating for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability. The claims for left and right knee disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's last VA examination of his back was conducted in April 2014, and the Board has determined that it is not adequate due to lack of passive, weight-bearing or nonweight-bearing range of motion testing. The case is being remanded for another VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings or a total disability evaluation.

The Board dismissed the issues of service connection for lumbar spine disability and acid reflux, upper abdominal disability. The effective date for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is set at December 13, 2015.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder, sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), lumbosacral strain, and left knee chondromalacia. The appeals were all denied as there was no current diagnosis or evidence of in-service injury resulting in the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's right shoulder tendinitis with trapezius strain is rated 30 percent effective from November 4, 2016.,A 40 percent rating for chronic low back pain with history of muscle strain is granted with an effective date of July 12, 2012. The left lower extremity radiculopathy was also granted a 10 percent rating on this same date.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for left ear hearing loss was granted. The claims for service connection for low back disorder, bilateral foot disorder, and hemorrhoids were denied.

The Veteran's allergic rhinitis is service-connected. The Board found that the Veteran had a current diagnosis of allergic rhinitis and provided competent and credible testimony regarding his symptoms during service.,Service connection for right fifth finger injury was denied due to lack of continuity of care, despite the Veteran's lay statements. A VA examination will be required to address this issue.,The Board found that there is no current evidence of a right knee disorder or low back disorder related to service. An adequate VA examination is needed to clarify these issues.,Service connection for skin disorder was denied due to lack of continuity of care, despite the Veteran's lay statements and testimony regarding his symptoms during service. An adequate VA examination is required to address this issue.,The claim for respiratory disorder was reopened based on new evidence (diagnosis of bronchitis). The Board found that there is a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim with further examination and medical opinion.,

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including lumbar spine condition (claimed as back condition), GERD, mental disorder (claimed as depressive illness), hyperlipidemia, left and right carpal tunnel syndrome, left and right hip arthritis, bilateral knee arthritis, discoid lupus erythematosus, hypertension, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied. The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is not service connected due to lack of evidence showing it was incurred or aggravated during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, headaches, hepatitis C, and fatigue/malaise due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The claims for disabilities of the back, right shoulder, hips, knees, and ankles are inextricably intertwined with the claim for hepatitis C.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The low back disability issue is remanded due to the inadequacy of the VA medical opinion.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his withdrawal of these claims during his July 2018 hearing. The remaining issues were remanded.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than February 29, 1996 for the grant of service connection for various conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an earlier effective date.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and the need for further examination. The appellant's current left foot disabilities, back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability are all in question.

The Board has remanded the claims of whether new and material evidence was submitted to reopen service connection for various disabilities, including back disability, neck disability, hearing loss, internal bleeding, acid reflux, and ingrown toenails. The Veteran needs to clarify his period of service with the Oklahoma Army National Guard.