Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea and a back condition is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted. The VA has remanded the issues of increased ratings for degenerative disc disease and left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as service connection for a gastrointestinal disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder and left knee degenerative joint disease, both secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus. The Veteran is advised to submit any additional medical evidence and a VA examination will be conducted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not been properly evaluated and requires additional examinations to determine their current severity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance have been dismissed.,Service connection was denied for a lumbar spine disability, COPD, and anxiety disorder with dysthymic disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further examination and medical opinion regarding the etiology of his low back disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, left hip disorder, and left knee disorder, all secondary to his service-connected left ankle osteoarthritis. Service connection is now established for these conditions.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has decided to remand this case for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss as new and material evidence was not presented. Service connection for low back pain and right hand mass were also denied due to lack of a current diagnosis or link to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left foot disabilities, as well as his claim for service connection for a low back disability that is secondary to his foot disabilities. The evidence did not support finding any current foot or back disabilities related to service.

The Board has found that further development is necessary to verify the Veteran's periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right ear retracted tympanic membrane, hernia repair, right knee disability, and low back disability are all remanded for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain has been dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with cognitive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to January 7, 2013, for the grant of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is denied. The Board also found that additional development is needed regarding the Veteran's claims for TDIU and SMC.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for back disability and asthma. Specifically, new examinations are required to address the Veteran’s assertions of continued symptomology and exposure to asbestos.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection and a higher rating for his back condition was denied. The Board found that the earliest claim for service connection for a back disability was filed on July 22, 2014, and thus no earlier effective date is warranted. For the rating issue, the evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes of IVDS meeting the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint and degenerative disc disease, thoracolumbar spine, with right femoral and sciatic nerve radiculopathy status post lumbar fusion and residual scar, as well as his service-connected degenerative disc and degenerative joint disease, cervical spine, with left radiculopathy status post compression fracture C5 and cervical fusion with residual scar, have been granted.,The Veteran's service-connected right knee medial and lateral meniscal tears, anterior cruciate ligament tear, and tricompartmental osteoarthritis has also been granted.,The Veteran's service-connected right heel injury (Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis) has been granted.,The Veteran's service connection for a headache disability secondary to his now service-connected cervical spine disabilities has been granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including back, left wrist, right wrist, left shoulder, and right shoulder conditions due to inadequate previous examinations.

The Board denied extraschedular ratings for the Veteran's service-connected loss of motion of various joints associated with Reiter’s syndrome, finding that the schedular criteria adequately described his symptoms.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been granted. The Board has remanded several other issues including service connection for thyroid disability, right shoulder disability, low back disability, neck disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, cataracts, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD.

The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for his right hand and low back conditions are being remanded due to the submission of new VA records that have not been reviewed by the AOJ.