Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the increased rating for lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his employment history and educational background. The Board will obtain additional VA medical records, request the Veteran's work history details, and provide a new VA medical opinion.

This decision grants initial compensable ratings for gout and degenerative arthritis, right ankle prior to April 8, 2016, and from April 8, 2016. It also grants an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for gout and degenerative arthritis, left ankle. The decision denies initial compensable ratings for degenerative arthritis, left shoulder prior to April 8, 2016, and from April 8, 2016, as well as a higher rating for right shoulder rotator cuff tear with degenerative arthritis.,Entitlement to an increased initial rating in excess of 30 percent for residual scars, pilonidal cyst excision, low back, coccyx area, right shoulder x4, and bilateral feet is granted.

The Veteran's back disorder, to include degenerative arthritis of the spine, is related to service and granted. The issues for arthritis, depression, and neck disorders are remanded.

The Board finds that there is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic degenerative low back disability with disc herniation is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, increased ratings for various knee and ankle disabilities, a compensable rating for bilateral pes planus, and an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for hypothyroidism. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development including VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder has been reopened, but the Board finds that there is insufficient evidence to grant service connection. The case is remanded for further development and an addendum VA opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on various conditions have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded several issues including service connection claims.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition. The issue of entitlement to individual unemployability is also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate previous opinions regarding whether the Veteran's lumbosacral spine DJD is aggravated by her service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition, right foot condition, and chronic headache condition. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claims that these conditions were related to his military service.,The VA examiner provided opinions against the Veteran's claims, noting no clear link between current diagnoses and service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claims. The appeal regarding a schedular rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar strain was also dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to September 9, 2015. However, the combined effect of his other disabilities (including diabetes and cervical spine disability) also contributed to his inability to work.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle, traumatic brain injury residuals, left knee, and right knee disabilities are denied. The claim for service connection for a back disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sinus disorder is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an allergy disorder (to include allergic rhinitis) is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disorder is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The claim of service connection for a low back disability is being remanded due to the need for further medical examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for back disability, mesothelioma, and arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary artery disease). The cause of death claim is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a rating of 70 percent since February 1, 2013. The issue of an initial rating for lumbar spine IVDS with right lower extremity neurological impairment is remanded. The issue of TDIU is also remanded.