Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar spine and left lower extremity radiculopathy conditions, prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to September 1, 2016. The Board granted the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating greater than 60 percent for his low back disability and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support ankylosis of the spine, which is required for a higher rating under DC 5243. For TDIU, the Veteran met the schedular criteria due to multiple service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back (lumbar spine) disorder and for a neurological disorder of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claims.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were withdrawn. The claims for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for a back disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability, dizziness, and digestive disorder due to additional development being required.

The petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disability is granted. The claims of entitlement to service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease, sleep disturbances, IBS, and left ankle fracture residuals are dismissed.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia has been granted a 40 percent disability rating, effective November 28, 2006. The Board denied entitlement to TDIU based on a single service connected disability (PTSD and fibromyalgia).

The Veteran's claims for right ear hearing loss disability, left ear hearing loss disability, cervical spondylosis, tinnitus, tinea versicolor, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, right hip iliotibial band syndrome with limited flexion, right hip iliotibial band syndrome with limited extension, right hip iliotibial band syndrome with impairment of the thigh, right knee strain, left knee strain, thoracolumbar strain, right shoulder scars, status-post surgery, left ingrown toenails, and migraine headaches have all been denied.,The Veteran's bilateral pes planus claim has also been denied for periods when a 100% rating was granted due to surgical convalescence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is related to an in-service injury, and thus service connection should be granted. However, further development is needed as the VA examiner only provided an opinion regarding pre-existence of a condition during service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability, including spina bifida. The new evidence submitted by an orthopedic surgeon indicates that the Veteran experienced both a superimposed injury and aggravation of his congenital condition during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition, sleep condition, and neuropathy secondary to his right knee condition due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include back disability, diabetic retinopathy, coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, and diabetes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability is remanded due to the need for additional development, including an examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, neck disability, low back pain, bilateral knee disabilities, cephalgia, hand tremors, restless leg syndrome, and respiratory insufficiency are being remanded due to insufficient evidence. The claim for acquired psychological disability is also being remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is remanded due to the need for a new examination and consideration of additional VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a rib injury/chest contusion and his TDIU claim because there is no evidence of current disability related to the in-service injury. The combined rating for his service-connected disabilities does not meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board dismissed the appeal of service connection for diabetes mellitus, denied service connection for low back disability and right knee disability, and denied service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back condition, increased ratings for migraine headaches, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and residuals of a left hip strain due to incomplete development. The Veteran needs to provide authorization for VA to obtain private medical records and an additional VA examination is required.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, low back disability, left knee chondromalacia with subluxation, right small finger degenerative arthritis, upper and mid dorsal spine limitation of extension, and residual surgical scar of the right knee, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for low back and neck/upper back disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The cases are being reviewed again.