Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities were denied. The cervical spine disability was rated at 20 percent, while the lumbar spine disability prior to January 28, 2015 was rated at 10 percent and from that date onwards at 20 percent.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to noise exposure during active service. The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran’s sleep apnea is related to service or proximately due to his service-connected PTSD. The issues of acid reflux, alopecia, diverticulitis, migraines, athlete’s foot of the right foot, athlete’s foot of the left foot, back disability, bilateral hearing loss, chronic bronchitis, hemorrhoids, right foot heel spur, left foot heel spur, right knee disability, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and pseudofolliculitis barbae are remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased rating of the Veteran's right knee disability, as well as his bilateral hip disability. The effective date for a 30 percent rating for status-post right knee replacement is set at June 13, 2013.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral hip disability, back disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (to include anxiety and depression).,Entitlement to nonservice-connected pension was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the basic percentage requirements for TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16 (a). The Board has referred the claim to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for an initial determination on whether the Veteran’s service connected disabilities warrant an extraschedular TDIU rating.

The Board denied service connection for low back, left knee, right knee, and both feet disabilities as the evidence did not show a link to service or a service-connected condition.,Service connection was also denied for secondary left and right knee disabilities to the Veteran's low back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cervical spine disability, bilateral foot and ankle disability, hypertension, urinary incontinence, and glossopharyngeal neuralgia, require further examination to determine their current severity.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate or based on need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a thoracic spine disability and remanded the issue of service connection for neuropathic chest pain associated with the thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right knee, right hip, left hip, and thoracolumbar spine disorders due to their potential secondary relationship with service-connected bilateral foot disorders. Additional VA examinations are needed to determine if these additional conditions are caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% since March 1, 2013. The back disorder claim remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and denied TDIU due to insufficient evidence showing that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed left hip, low back, left knee, and left ankle disorders are not related to his active service. The VA examiners found no evidence of chronic conditions in service or post-service treatment records indicating a link between these current disabilities and service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral pes planus, and a bilateral knee disability. The remaining issues are REMANDED for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disorders, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a heart disorder claimed as due to herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and tinnitus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and neurological impairment of the groin have been granted service connection. An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been denied. An initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has also been denied.

The Veteran's spouse was added as his dependent to his VA disability compensation award effective October 1, 2004.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating and TDIU was denied. The radiculopathy of the left lower extremity associated with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent, effective June 16, 2016. The preponderance of evidence does not support entitlement to TDIU on either a schedular or extraschedular basis prior to June 16, 2016.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA examination of the Veteran's low back disability.