Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to April 7, 2010. The Board denied an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA benefits.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance due to her back brace is denied as there is no evidence that the brace causes actual wear and tear to her clothing.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the claims for service connection for various foot and knee conditions, including bilateral shin splints, ankle disorders, pes planus, and low back disorder.

The Board denied service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service and did not manifest within one year of separation.

The Board has determined that more information is needed to adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of his psychiatric disabilities, sickle cell trait, back disability, hip disability, knee disability, loss of use of bilateral lower extremities, TDIU, and DEA.

The Board has granted service connection for schizophrenia, an acquired psychiatric disorder. The appeal concerning bilateral hearing loss is dismissed due to the Veteran's representative withdrawing it. Other issues are remanded.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including whether it was aggravated by service or had its onset during active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability was received by the RO on March 19, 2013. There is no evidence of record to show that there was any communication from the Veteran indicating the intent to apply for service connection for a right knee disability between the final April 2010 rating decision and prior to March 19, 2013.

The appeal on the issues of service connection for left and right foot drop is dismissed.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted. The denial of service connection for a low back disability by a May 1998 rating decision was not the product of clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on his low back strain and left ankle disability is dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of these issues. The case is remanded to schedule VA examinations and determine the current severity of his service-connected disabilities, and to evaluate the impact of his disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hand disability was denied, but the claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability (including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and schizoaffective disorder) was reopened and granted.,Service connection was also granted for a psychiatric disability. However, claims for service connection for left hand disability and low back disability were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right shoulder disability, and hemorrhoids. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is presumed to have been incurred in service due to the nature of his military duties.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder and cervical spine disorder, finding that the preponderance of the evidence did not support a relationship to active service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and evaluation due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's disability ratings for Right Shoulder Disorder, Neck Disorder, Back Disorder, Right Ankle Disorder, and Gastrointestinal Disorder were reduced from 10% to 0%. The reduction in the rating of scars was also granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder disorder, low back disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left knee disability prior to December 2, 2015 and 60 percent thereafter (excluding the temporary 100% rating from December 2, 2015 to February 1, 2017 for prosthetic replacement of the left knee) has been dismissed. The appeal for a higher rating for service-connected diffuse degenerative joint disease and spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine is remanded. The appeal for an initial compensable rating for service-connected right knee disability is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examination reports and conflicting opinions. The issues include tinnitus, left knee disability, right knee disability, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left lower extremity sciatica, right lower extremity sciatica, acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety and depression), and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for depression and lumbar spine disability due to inadequate examinations in April 2012. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbosacral strain and knee disability, have been found to meet the schedular criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) since March 18, 1993.