Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a left leg disability to include radiculopathy due to the lumbar spine.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for a back disorder and tinnitus. The claim of service connection for a knee disorder is remanded due to lack of examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), and back disorder were evaluated. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating for any of these conditions and remanded several issues including service connection for a left knee disorder, individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU), and service connection for a back disorder.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is not service-connected, but his lumbar spine DDD and bladder incontinence are rated at the appropriate levels. The effective date for sciatic nerve radiculopathy has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable prior to December 7, 2011. The Board is remanding the case for referral to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration of entitlement to a TDIU under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) prior to December 7, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder and low back disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for recurrent left ear infections was denied. His PTSD received a 30% initial evaluation, which is granted. The claims for hemorrhoids and lumbar degenerative disc disease with strain (back disability) are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases of hearing loss, sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux, lower back disorder, and pain down the legs for further examination to determine their etiology. The Veteran's service connection claims are otherwise denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine was granted, with an effective date of April 20, 2010.

The Board has dismissed all issues related to rating and initial ratings for various conditions as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

An effective date of October 24, 2012 is granted for the grant of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability. The Veteran's claim for earlier effective date for this condition is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder. The claim for a back disability was denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for upper back condition, left knee injury, left toe condition (claimed as left great toe infection), bilateral eye condition (claimed as bilateral eye irritation), chest condition (claimed as chest pain), and anemia.,Additionally, the Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle condition and hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and right shoulder osteoarthritis and impingement syndrome, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and bilateral pes planus are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and right leg sciatica are granted with ratings of 20% each, effective from the date of the decision. The claims for bilateral knee disability, right shoulder disability, head injury, and bilateral elbow disability are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, stating that his service-connected disabilities alone were not sufficient to cause unemployability in the period of one year before the date of claim.

The Veteran's appeal of his sleep disorder was dismissed as he requested to withdraw the issue.,Service connection for a low back disorder, diagnosed as scoliosis, is granted. The Board found that the Veteran’s current condition is related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete records from the Fresno VA Medical Center. The Veteran's attorney requested updated treatment records, and a review found no recent inpatient hospitalization.