Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic back disability is reopened, and he is granted secondary service connection for OSA. Service connection for hypertension is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of right ankle disability, lumbar spine disability, and left hip bursitis due to inconsistencies in previous examinations and need for further clarification on the relationship between these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was granted a 10% evaluation. The issues of service connection for bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss, and increased ratings for his knee disabilities are being remanded.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with arthritis was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and there is no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and service. The Board found that the Veteran did not sustain an injury to his lumbar spine during service and had no continuous symptoms following discharge.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal regarding a rating in excess of 10 percent for nasal fracture, status-post septoplasty. The appeals for increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and sinusitis are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of consideration of the Veteran's testimony and April 2017 hearing during the evaluation for TDIU. The case is now being returned to the Board for further development.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and consideration of recent Court holdings.

The Board has found that the Veteran's right ankle disability warrants a 10% rating, but not higher. The back and left thigh neuropathy cases are remanded for further development. Service connection claims for left knee condition and chronic pain syndrome are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with IVDS and spinal stenosis. The remand includes requesting additional medical records, including a May 30, 2006 treatment note from UPMC Passavant Hospital, and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeals for additional development and consideration of new evidence, including VA examination reports and treatment records. The issues include rating adjustments for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, right foot superficial peroneal neuritis, left foot degenerative joint disease, chronic otitis media, and a right ear injury with perforation of tympanic membrane. TDIU is also remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim from November 1, 2015 through December 14, 2015 was granted. The left knee disability rated as 10% prior to December 15, 2015 is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability has been reopened, and the case is now remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection due to lack of evidence showing an increase in disability prior to May 22, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability, but it is remanded for further development and an examination to determine if his current condition is related to service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including knee and back conditions, radiculopathy, ankle disability, and limitation of extension. The Veteran is also being asked to provide additional information regarding his need for aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back disability, traumatic brain injury (TBI), right knee disability, and left knee disability must be remanded due to incomplete records from Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right elbow disability has been granted with a 40% rating effective from April 4, 2011. The earlier effective date request was denied as the evidence did not show that an increase in disability occurred within one year prior to the filing of the claim.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for temporal lobe syndrome has been reopened due to new and material evidence provided since the January 2011 Board decision. The issue is now pending further review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower leg pain, and neuropathy of the left upper extremity due to inadequate examination opinions. The claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his lumbar DDD was denied. A separate 10 percent rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is granted, effective May 12, 2010. The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was also denied.