Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's headaches are granted service connection as secondary to his mood disorder. His lightheadedness is not a separate diagnosis but rather a symptom of the medication he takes for his mood disorder. An initial 40 percent rating is granted for his lumbar spine degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits were granted effective August 12, 1999, due to his service-connected low back disability and emotional disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar DDD and DJD, as well as right lower extremity radiculopathy, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back and left knee disorders, right ear hearing loss, heart disability, hypertension, and scars have been denied. The Veteran was granted TDIU.,Service connection for depressive disorder has been established with an effective date prior to April 29, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including a VA spine examination and opinion. The issues are reopening service connection for chronic back condition and determining TDIU eligibility.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back pain, PTSD, and evaluations in excess of 10 percent and 30 percent for allergic rhinitis and headaches with dizziness, respectively. The Board found that there was no current diagnosis of a low back disability or PTSD, and that the Veteran did not have a current disability related to his allergic rhinitis or headaches with dizziness.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and an inadequate examination. The Veteran's back disorder is presumed to have existed prior to service, but further investigation is needed to determine if it was aggravated by service or related to any event during service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for traumatic brain injury, cataracts, dental disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, hearing loss, right leg/thigh disability, left leg disability, left hip disability, left knee disability, and removal of the right ovary have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal to reopen her claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) has been granted.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with history of right sciatica was reduced from a 20 percent rating to a 10 percent rating effective February 1, 2014. The Board found the reduction improper and restored the 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's chronic mechanical low back syndrome with degenerative joint disease, degenerative disc disease and right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted as service-connected. A 20% disability rating for the right ankle fracture with shortening of the right lower extremity remains in effect.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current right ear hearing loss, pes planus (flat feet), or sleep apnea that is related to service.,The Veteran's flat feet were noted at entry into service and remained asymptomatic throughout his career. The VA examiner found no evidence of aggravation during service.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for lumbar spine disability due to insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran's assertions about in-service onset and post-service self-treatment are considered, but a new VA examination is needed to determine if his current condition is related to military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to outstanding VA treatment records and potential worker's compensation records. The Veteran is also required to undergo a medical examination to determine if his hearing loss or tinnitus are related to service.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn, and the claims for lumbosacral strain, left hip trochanteric bursitis with limited and painful abduction prior to May 19, 2017, left hip trochanteric bursitis with limited flexion, a left calf condition, and a left thigh muscle condition have been dismissed.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various disabilities, including a right shoulder disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and low back disability have been dismissed as withdrawn. The appeal for non-service-connected pension benefits has also been dismissed.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD and a left shoulder condition. The Veteran's claims for erectile dysfunction, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and right forearm injury are remanded for further examination and analysis.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss was denied. For the period prior to January 21, 2016, his back disability received an initial rating in excess of 10 percent. From January 21, 2016 forward, he received a 20 percent rating for his back disability. He also received separate ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy and PTSD. The Veteran's TBI claim was denied.

The Veteran is in need of regular aid and attendance due to her service-connected disabilities, including hypothyroidism with bradycardia, depression with a mood disorder, thoracolumbar spine strain with ankylosing spondylitis, and other conditions. The Board has determined that she meets the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depression, heart disease, and a back scar from a shell fragment wound, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability and associated right lower extremity radiculopathy, as further development is required.