Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding his left wrist disability, low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, calculus of the left ureter, and PTSD. The Veteran was granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability from September 27, 2007 to June 12, 2017.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, and lumbar spine disability as the evidence did not show any in-service injury or chronic symptoms that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's back disability prior to June 2, 2016, finding that the evidence did not show it met or more nearly approximated the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, finding no evidence of a direct relationship to service or service-connected cervical spondylosis. Service connection was granted for hypertension, with the preponderance of evidence supporting its onset during active duty training.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis, is etiologically related to active duty service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's back brace is judged to cause wear and tear on his clothing, which meets the criteria for a clothing allowance. The medication used for his shoulder condition does not qualify for an additional allowance.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability is granted, and the claims of service connection for back disabilities are remanded. The Veteran's increased rating claim for his right knee disability is also remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as service connected, but his sleep apnea and muscle pain claims are remanded for further development.,His low back disability and headaches are also remanded for further development. His left-hand disability claim remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to report for a VA examination. The case will be rescheduled and the functional impact of his service-connected disabilities on employment will be assessed.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and rating reductions for the Veteran's disabilities. The propriety of the reductions in evaluations for neck disability and bilateral hearing loss is under consideration, as are other claims including those for BPH, erectile dysfunction, gout, pre-diabetes mellitus, eye disability, left ventricular hypertrophy, back pain, tongue growth removal, creatinine kinase elevation, and accessory muscle of the neck.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent since July 3, 2009, and the Board has granted this rating. The right lower extremity sciatica and left lower extremity sciatica are remanded for further review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, cervical spine disability, and bilateral knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

This decision reopens the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right leg condition, left elbow condition, and left knee condition. The claim for service connection for a back condition is remanded. The claim for service connection for lumbar radiculopathy of the lower extremities is also remanded. The claim for service connection for a right knee condition (previously claimed as a right leg condition) is denied. The claim for service connection for a left elbow condition is denied.,Service connection for a right elbow condition is not granted due to lack of current diagnosis and no evidence of functional limitation or identifiable condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an extension of a temporary total rating based on convalescence due to a myelogram performed in September 2001, finding that it did not meet the criteria set forth in 38 C.F.R. § 4.30.

All service connection claims have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a back condition has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to obtain missing service treatment records and determine if he was exposed to herbicide agents or radiation during his National Guard service in Korea. The issues of service connection have been remanded as well.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability is remanded due to the need for a VA examination that complies with Correia v. McDonald (2016) and Sharp v. Shulkin (2017).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including spurring of the cervical and lumbar spine, bilateral knee condition with total replacements, left shoulder condition, elbow residuals, and bilateral foot condition. The decision was based on a lack of evidence establishing a relationship between these conditions and active military service.,The Board also denied the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for bilateral hearing loss and depression, and his claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for left knee disability, blindness in both eyes, psychiatric disabilities, decreased bone density, low back disability, and foot disability. The AOJ is instructed to obtain updated VA treatment records, Social Security Administration (SSA) decision and award letters, pay stubs from Puerto Rico Army National Guard service, verify the exact dates of each period of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) and Inactive Duty Training (INACDUTRA), and schedule a VA examination to determine the nature, initial onset dates, etiologies, and relationships between the Veteran's disabilities and his military service.