Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issue of service connection for moderate degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, residuals of a right eye injury, and intervertebral disc syndrome (formerly degenerative disc disease) of the lumbar spine due to insufficient evidence or need for additional examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection and TDIU due to missing VA examination reports and lack of consideration of lay statements regarding symptom onset.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is granted as it meets the criteria for presumptive service connection based on chronic symptoms in service and continuous symptoms since separation.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 30 percent for migraine headaches, effective October 4, 2005. The issue of service connection for DDD secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right neck disability is remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to radiation exposure, as well as other disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral knee disability, low back disability, erectile dysfunction (secondary to PTSD), and headaches (secondary to PTSD) are not related to service. The claims for these conditions have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have all been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or diagnoses.,Service treatment records did not show any complaints, findings, or treatment related to these conditions.

The Board has determined that further assistance is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current low back disorder, which may be related to service. The case is therefore being remanded for a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for back disorder, right-knee disorder, and left-knee disorder as they are not related to active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between his current condition and active duty. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran’s low back disability is more likely due to normal aging rather than military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further clarification and additional opinions regarding whether the Veteran's scoliosis, pelvic obliquity or tilt, and cervical spine disabilities are related to his service-connected foot, knee, or lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly her low back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy, render her unable to secure or follow substantial gainful employment. She is granted a TDIU effective February 13, 2015, and eligibility for specially adapted housing. The appeal seeking a special home adaptation grant is dismissed as moot.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine arthritis, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to a back injury sustained during his INACDUTRA in September 1991.

Service connection for hyperlipidemia, headaches, hyperthyroidism, depression, Peyronie's disease, colon polyps, West Nile virus, tinea, GERD, intestinal disorder (to include IBS and chronic diarrhea), back condition, hypothyroidism, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction is denied.,Service connection for PTSD was awarded on February 13, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for migraine headaches has been dismissed. The claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, diabetes mellitus, and arthritis are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, lumbar spine (lower back), left knee, and right knee disabilities have been granted. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding the lower back and knee issues.

The Board has granted a 30% rating for the Veteran's cervical spine strain from August 25, 2016. The remaining issues of increased ratings and separate ratings for radiculopathy are remanded due to lack of recent VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and TDIU due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between his current conditions and service or service-connected disabilities. The Board also found that the Veteran was not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for temporary total evaluations and increased ratings were dismissed due to the invalidity of a Notice of Disagreement submitted by his representative.,Issues concerning compensable ratings for upper brachial plexus injury, traumatic brain injury (TBI), fracture, left orbital floor, and right-hand scar were also dismissed as there was no specific error or law identified in the VA decisions.