Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The issues are related to thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis.

The rating reduction from 40 percent to 20 percent for the Veteran's back disability was not proper, and the appeal to restore the 40 percent rating is granted.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, degenerative disc disease of the thoracic spine, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative arthritis, right knee patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative arthritis, and left and right ankle sprain are all granted. The effective dates for these ratings have not been specified.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine disability, finding that it was incurred in or caused by military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of lumbosacral spine and IVDS is granted with an effective date of June 27, 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring additional medical opinions on the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability and abdominal or gastrointestinal disability.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of all issues on appeal.

The claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease with spinal stenosis, hepatitis B, osteoarthritis with avascular necrosis left hip, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy left lower extremity are all denied as new and relevant evidence has not been submitted to support the Veteran's claims.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for secondary service connection for his lumbar spine and left knee conditions, finding that these conditions are proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right knee condition.,Both conditions were found to be related to the Veteran's altered gait as a result of his right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for lumbosacral strain (claimed as a back condition) due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether it is related to military service or aggravated by preexisting scoliosis.

The Veteran's PTSD, low back pain and strain, left shoulder pain and strain, right shoulder pain and strain, left hand numbness, left hand pain, right hand numbness, right hand pain, and right ankle pain and strain have been granted service connection.,A VA examination is required to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, finding that his symptoms had their initial onset during service and have continued to worsen since then. The decision is based on the Veteran's lay statements regarding the onset and continuity of his lumbar spine symptoms.

The Veteran's lower back disability is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for tinnitus cannot be established.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to PTSD has been granted. The claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to missing service treatment records and outstanding private medical records. The Veteran's SSN may be incorrect, and a search should be conducted using both correct and incorrect numbers.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including effective date for scar, low back prior to April 15, 2017; evaluation greater than 70 percent for anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder; compensable evaluation for scar, low back; and evaluation greater than 40 percent for residuals, status post lumbar discectomy. The Veteran's claims will be remanded for further adjudication by the RO.

The Veteran's back condition is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has remanded to determine if a higher rating is warranted due to flare-ups caused by prolonged sitting, standing or laying down.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated at 10 percent since May 8, 2014. A separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability is granted from June 9, 2016. The Veteran's painful left knee scars are rated at 20 percent since May 8, 2014.,The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right clavicle disability, right shoulder disability, back disability, right hip disability, and right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine and eye disabilities, with an effective date of October 23, 2015. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is considered to have been incurred in service, while his blurred vision is not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to September 4, 2019.