Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and consideration of the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left arm and low back disabilities are related to his active service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent for the period after September 19, 2017. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and service-connected right knee disability did not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to September 15, 2006. The Board found that his other service-connected conditions, including posttraumatic stress disorder and lumbosacral strain, also did not render him unemployable.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a thoracic spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and right shoulder disability for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence received since the final decisions is either cumulative or redundant of previous evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right first metatarsal fracture with DJD, finding that there is at least a 50% probability that his current back disability was caused or aggravated by his service-connected right foot condition.

The Veteran's disability ratings for lumbar spine and cervical spine conditions were reduced from their previous levels to reflect improvement in the Veteran's condition.,Both reductions were based on VA examinations conducted after the initial rating decisions, which showed significant improvement in the Veteran's range of motion.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional VA and private treatment records, provide VCAA notice regarding secondary service connection claims, and conduct further development including obtaining an addendum opinion and/or VA examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD and low back disability have been granted, but the effective dates are not specified. The Veteran is also granted TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected knee and back disabilities, including lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease at L4-L5 with limitation of motion, right knee status post-ligament damage, right knee traumatic mild degenerative arthritis with loss of motion, left knee laxity of the medial collateral ligament, and left knee traumatic osteoarthritis with limitation of motion. The appeal is currently pending due to a need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for both the low back disorder and PTSD claims, including obtaining additional medical records and arranging for VA examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a low back disability is granted as he has been diagnosed with degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine both during and after his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA examinations to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and to address the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is granted. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence supports a finding that the Veteran has sleep apnea that had its onset during his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to unclear employment status and the need for a VA examination to assess his ability to secure or follow gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for lumbar spine, hip disabilities, and skin disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of medical records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, ulcer, and migraine headaches. The claim for migraine headaches is granted as there is sufficient evidence to support the diagnosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and cervical spine disabilities are related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.