Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

Service connection is denied for sleep apnea, stomach disability, hypertension, left hand disability, low back injury, left leg lumbar radiculopathy, right ankle injury residuals, left wrist degenerative arthritis, and left eye injury residuals.,A compensable rating is granted for scar, status post left wrist fusion.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of August 23, 2006 for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Board found that his service-connected disabilities have rendered him substantially unemployable since at least this date.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent prior to April 21, 2017, and in excess of 40 percent from that date, for low back arthritis is denied. The claim for a 20 percent evaluation for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy from July 17, 2012, is granted.

The Board has remanded both issues for further development and consideration. The Veteran's hearing loss claim is being reviewed due to new evidence, while his back disability claim requires a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that his current low back disability did not manifest during or within one year after service and is not otherwise etiologically related to active service, including as secondary to service-connected left tibia fracture.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his xerosis, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, right knee disability, and headache.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the Veteran's back disability, which may be related to service. A new VA examination is required.

The Board has denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, alcohol abuse, and erectile dysfunction. The remaining issues of service connection for low back disability, neck disability, bilateral arm neuropathy, mouth disability, and respiratory disability are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for rheumatoid arthritis and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine due to lack of a VA medical opinion on service connection, and failure to schedule a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating for his lumbar spine disability and right-sided radiculopathy due to inadequate VA examinations, including a lack of discussion on flare-ups and functional loss.

This decision grants service connection for degenerative joint disease and spondylosis of the cervical spine, degenerative joint disease, chronic discopathy, and osteoarthritis of lumbar spine and chronic thoracic myalgia concomitant with degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine, headaches, and paresthesias of the left thigh, all secondary to service-connected left inferior pubic stress fracture.,This decision also grants an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD and depressive disorder.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including knee and spine conditions. The reasons are that new evidence indicates an increase in severity for all conditions, a peripheral nerve examination is needed, and VA examinations must include joint testing for pain on both active and passive motion.

The claim for service connection of a low back disability, including spondylolisthesis at L4-L5, is reopened and granted. The Veteran's evidence shows he had a parachute jump injury in 2003 which may be related to his current condition.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted service connection. Service connection for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities is denied.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for left and right foot disabilities, as well as thoracolumbar spine disability. The Veteran's congenital conditions were found to have not worsened during service.

The Veteran's attention deficit disorder without hyperactivity and cervical spine degenerative joint disease are granted. The Board has remanded the issues of bilateral shoulder disabilities, bilateral knee condition, and low back pain for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for gout, an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), residuals of a right ring finger injury, and a low back condition due to inadequate examinations. The Veteran is required to be provided with medical evaluations to determine the nature and etiology of his disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability has worsened, and a new examination is needed to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder, thoracolumbar spine, bilateral foot disability, and TMJ conditions. The claims for service connection will be remanded.