Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for a low back disability and degenerative joint disease of the left knee due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease due to herbicide agent exposure, and remanded the remaining issues related to heart conditions, hypertension, cerebrovascular accident (CVA or stroke), sleep apnea, seizures, peripheral neuropathy, and an acquired psychological disability.

The Board has denied service connection for a low back disability, tinnitus, hypertension, and depression. The Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his period of active service.,A new VA examination is needed to determine the severity of the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for arthritis of the lumbar spine with IVDS and lumbar disc herniation was denied, as her disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been reopened, and the Board has granted a separate 20 percent rating for left knee cartilage impairment. The issues of service connection for low back disability, right ankle disability, psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder was denied. The Veteran's depressive disorder and substance abuse disorder associated with chronic lumbosacral strain were granted a rating of 100 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran's conjunctivitis was granted a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and his TDIU claim is granted. The Board also remanded the issues of increased ratings for right knee degenerative joint disease and left knee chondromalacia patella.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings and earlier effective dates for lumbosacral strain, PTSD, and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been withdrawn. The Board has dismissed these appeals.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims on appeal due to inadequate range of motion testing in previous VA examinations. The Veteran will be scheduled for new VA examinations to assess his right knee and back disabilities, as well as his headaches.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for increased evaluations related to right knee arthritis, degenerative disc disease, and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine before a decision was made.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease was granted a 40% disability rating prior to December 12, 2016. The appeal for higher ratings is denied throughout the period on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for low back pain has been reopened and is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

This decision denies service connection for right knee, left knee, and low back disabilities. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% since January 3, 2013.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine did not begin during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury.

The Board denied reopening of the claims for service connection for dorsolumbar paravertebral myositis with scoliosis and lumbar radiculopathy due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating.

Your claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional VA medical records from the Richmond and Fort Lee VA facilities.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and entitlement to TDIU have been denied as there is no evidence of new and material information or sufficient medical evidence to establish these conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, claimed as bilateral foraminal stenosis of the lumbar/sacroiliac junction. The case is remanded for further development and an examination.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, breathing-related disability, and lower back disability are granted. The Veteran is denied for higher initial ratings or earlier effective dates for her service-connected disabilities.