Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of VA examination and potential missing private medical records, which could affect the determination of service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee, right knee, and back conditions due to a lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him so helpless as to need regular aid and attendance of another, nor are they severe enough to result in permanent bedridden status.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right elbow condition, right ankle condition (including Achilles tendonitis), right shoulder condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, and back condition. The Board also found that bilateral pes planus began during active duty.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee condition, GERD, degenerative changes in the lumbar spine, and ED. The PTSD claim was granted with an increased rating to 70%. The hearing loss claim remains denied.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, bilateral hip disability, and an initial 50 percent rating for bilateral pes planus. The Board also remanded issues of entitlement to initial compensable ratings for right and left knee iliotibial band syndrome, as well as service connection for a back 'condition' and a left hip 'condition'. The Board found there was an inferred claim for TDIU based on a private medical opinion indicating the Veteran could not work due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional opinions regarding service connection for low back disorder, thoracolumbar muscle spasm, and neck disorder due to lack of adequate opinions addressing aggravation by service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and headache disability due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal in its entirety, including the issues of service connection for low back disorder, erectile dysfunction, right leg radiculopathy, and left leg radiculopathy.

The Veteran's chronic low back condition is granted as service connected, with the onset during active military service from August 3, 2018 to August 24, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for a lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease was denied. The claims for evaluations of 40 percent, but not in excess thereof, for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities were granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee condition, left knee condition, back condition, and bilateral hearing loss as there is no current disability found to be related to military service.

Effective dates of August 15, 2020 are granted for service connection for various knee and back conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for a right wrist disorder, foot disorder, ulcer residuals, lumbar spine disorder, and dry eye syndrome. The issues of service connection for these conditions are being remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability with IVDS, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve have all been granted initial ratings.,A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has also been granted from December 16, 2012.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with IVDS and spinal stenosis is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, degenerative joint disease of the left hip, and degenerative joint disease of the right hip are remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board finds that there is insufficient evidence to determine if these conditions were aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic left foot disability, chronic right foot disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including schizoaffective disorder), chronic lumbar spine disorder, chronic cervical spine disorder, chronic left shoulder disorder, chronic left knee disorder, chronic right knee disorder, chronic left ankle disorder, and chronic right ankle disorder. The claims are being remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hemorrhoids, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, vertigo, and OSA due to lack of a current diagnosis in some cases or insufficient medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is granted a 40 percent rating for the entire appeal period, effective December 4, 2003.