Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain has been rated at 20 percent since the initial grant of service connection, and continues to meet this rating based on painful limitation of motion without ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Board granted service connection and assigned a 10 percent rating for cholinergic urticaria, effective from the date of the decision. The ratings for right knee musculoligamentous strain, right shoulder strain (major extremity), and right ankle sprain remain unchanged.

The Veteran's service-connected headaches are rated at 50 percent disabling. The Board granted a higher initial rating for his headaches, but noted that the condition presents an exceptional or unusual disability picture and referred the matter to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to his active service, and therefore denied all of his claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disability and chest pain due to insufficient medical opinions in previous decisions. The Veteran's claim for new and material evidence is also pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disorder, including degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis of the lumbar spine, is not related to his military service. The evidence does not support a finding that the current condition was incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on all issues except hearing loss were withdrawn by the Veteran. The Board grants service connection for tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of increased disability ratings for the service-connected lumbar spine, bilateral knee, and bilateral foot disabilities are also being addressed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and the release of private medical records. The claims for increased rating and TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for back disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral hip disability, and hypertension due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran had chronic manifestations of bilateral sacroiliitis in service, and therefore grants service connection for a back disability (bilateral sacroiliitis) for accrued benefits purposes.

The Board finds that the effective date for the grant of service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy should be June 7, 2007, as this is the earliest date on which it was factually ascertainable that an increase in disability occurred.

The Board denied payment or reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred on June 23, 2013, at Orange Park Regional Medical Center due to the lack of prior VA authorization and because the treatment was not rendered in a medical emergency.

The appeal is being remanded due to errors in correspondence and the need for further development, including VCAA notice on a TDIU claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine condition is not related to his active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to a submission of new evidence from the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and TDIU, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration by the Director, Compensation Service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is found to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including his foot and ankle conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with facet syndrome and radiculopathy affecting both lower extremities, but denied a claim for service connection for psychiatric disability as secondary to back disability. The Veteran is entitled to separate initial evaluations for these conditions.