Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting TDIU.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are not rated higher than the current 10 percent assigned.,The Veteran's residuals of right second and third toe amputation do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for his claimed low back condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's low back disability.

The Veteran's knee and back braces caused increased wear or tear to his outer clothing in 2019, leading to the grant of an annual clothing allowance.

The Veteran's service connection for sleep apnea, including as secondary to his service-connected disabilities of degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine with spinal fusion and bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, is denied because the evidence does not support a finding that obesity (an intermediate step) was caused or aggravated by these service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spondylosis with degenerative disc disease and facet degeneration, finding that his current disability is related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a back disability was dismissed as untimely, and his hypertension claim resulted in an initial evaluation of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, psychiatric disability other than unspecified anxiety disorder with unspecified neurocognitive disorder, and urination disability were denied. The claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for migraine headaches was also denied.

The Board has decided that the VA did not obtain relevant private medical records prior to issuing a rating decision, and thus remands the case for further action.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for a low back disability, right knee disability, and an increased rating for left knee degenerative arthritis before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for his service-connected low back disability prior to November 28, 2015 was denied as the evidence did not show any limitation of motion or other disabling symptoms warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected, but his low back disability is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder is currently rated as 70 percent disabling, but the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his disability level and does not warrant a higher evaluation. The lumbosacral degenerative joint disease with L1 compression fracture is also rated at 40 percent, which the Board deems appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, requiring an examination to determine if the Veteran's low back disorder is related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for treatment purposes only for a lumbar spine disability. The appeal regarding bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee disability, and PTSD is remanded due to incomplete service personnel records.

The Board has granted a TDIU and established basic eligibility for Dependents' Education Assistance benefits due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The combined rating of his service-connected conditions is 90 percent, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine strain and lumbosacral strain, effective February 8, 1990. The radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities is also service connected as secondary to these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, back disability, hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure), and right ear drum disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for neck, back, and left ankle disabilities due to a lack of adequate direct service connection nexus opinions. The Veteran is advised that additional evidence may be considered on remand.

The appeal for service connection for lumbar spine multi level degenerative disc disease with bilateral neural foraminal narrowing and spinal stenosis is dismissed due to a procedural defect.