Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of her service-connected disabilities on her ability to locomote.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional examinations and records, particularly regarding his back disorder and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease, finding that his forward flexion is limited to 40 degrees and considering functional loss due to pain. The maximum schedular evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5003 (degenerative arthritis) does not apply as only one major joint or group of minor joints are involved.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The remaining issues on appeal are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it does not cause limitation of flexion to 60 degrees or less, a combined ROM (CROM) less than 120 degrees, or additional neurologic impairment.

The Veteran's appeal of his lumbar spine disorder and TDIU claims is being remanded for further development, including obtaining outstanding treatment records and issuing a supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's service-connected inactive pulmonary tuberculosis is found to be the primary cause of his current chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular conditions (including coronary artery disease and hypertension), sleep apnea, right lower extremity femur fracture, left lower extremity femur fracture, anxiety disorder NOS, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and back condition involving degenerative joint disease.,The Veteran's service-connected inactive pulmonary tuberculosis is found to be the primary cause of his current cardiovascular conditions (including coronary artery disease and hypertension), sleep apnea, right lower extremity femur fracture, left lower extremity femur fracture, anxiety disorder NOS, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and back condition involving degenerative joint disease.,The Veteran's service-connected inactive pulmonary tuberculosis is found to be the primary cause of his current sleep apnea, right lower extremity femur fracture, left lower extremity femur fracture, anxiety disorder NOS, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and back condition involving degenerative joint disease.,The Veteran's service-connected inactive pulmonary tuberculosis is found to be the primary cause of his current right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy.,The Veteran's service-connected inactive pulmonary tuberculosis is found to be the primary cause of his current anxiety disorder NOS, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and back condition involving degenerative joint disease.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the etiology of the Veteran's left hip and low back disabilities. The issues of service connection remain on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete medical records and insufficient opinions regarding service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The issues include seeking an increased rating for his right knee disability and service connection for a back disability secondary to his knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance was denied as the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities required a prosthetic or orthopedic appliance to be worn or used which tended to wear out his clothing, or that he used medication due to a service-connected disability that caused irreparable damage to his outer garments.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability is not related to service or a service-connected condition, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied referral for extraschedular consideration and denied service connection for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's case is remanded to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition and granted it. The claims for neck and head conditions are remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is related to his military service, and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The effective date of the award of service connection was set at March 14, 1993.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records from before 1978. The claims will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus has been reopened, but the issue of service connection for low back disorder remains denied.,Service connection was granted for PTSD. The issues of service connection for bilateral toe disorders, sleep apnea, right thigh disorder, and erectile dysfunction remain unresolved.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew the issues of entitlement to service connection for atrial fibrillation, subacute peripheral neuropathy, right upper extremity, and entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left distal radius fracture, status post reduction, with degenerative changes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of some issues related to his prostate condition and sleep apnea. The decision also includes a determination that he is eligible for special monthly compensation.