Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded to obtain additional medical examinations and review of the evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disorder and a right shoulder disorder, finding no evidence of such conditions during or after service. The Veteran's lay assertions were not credible on the matters of diagnosis and etiology.,For his initial disability rating claim for a right wrist strain, the Board found that ankylosis was not present, thus denying a higher rating than 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for DDD of the thoracolumbar spine with strain prior to January 29, 2018 and from January 29, 2018 to September 25, 2023 was denied as his disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous remand instructions and the need for a new VA opinion regarding functional loss prior to December 15, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 70 percent for major depressive disorder has been granted. The claims for service connection for back condition and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as the increased ratings for right knee conditions, are remanded.

The Veteran's back disability is granted as service-connected due to the in-service injury and chronic symptoms. The left hip disability is denied as not related to the service-connected knee disabilities.,A separate 10 percent rating for symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage in the left knee is granted, while a higher rating for torn meniscus status-post surgery with non-compensable scar remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has found new and material evidence to support reopening of his hearing loss and tinnitus claims. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression), right hand/finger disability, left hand/finger disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and back disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The remaining issues of service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, left leg pain, and facial scars are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracolumbar and cervical spine disabilities are service-connected, with the benefit of doubt favoring the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not show an increase in severity of his lumbar radiculopathy or degenerative disc disease and IVDS prior to receipt of his September 2018 claim. The Veteran was currently rated at 20 percent for each issue.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability and lower extremity radiculopathy conditions are currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds no evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes meeting criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to April 27, 2012 due to incomplete development and referral for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, a back condition, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis have all been denied. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been granted a 70% rating from August 31, 2018 to February 10, 2020.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine was not manifested by or more nearly approximated forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees or a combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine not greater than 120 degrees, and thus does not meet the criteria for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to April 13, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted.,Resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor, several conditions were found to be incurred in service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's back condition and his service. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to determine if his current back condition is related to an in-service injury or strain.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left lower extremity lumbar spine radiculopathy is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, a back disability, and bilateral knee disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability. The effective dates and ratings will be assigned by the RO.

The Veteran's TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate claims are granted effective from February 28, 2018. The Board also found that a separate thoracolumbar spine disorder is not service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection for his right knee and low back conditions are being remanded due to the inadequacy of the previous VA examinations.