Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 20 percent, resolving his previous claim for a higher rating.,The Veteran's right knee disability is resolved with a 10 percent initial rating.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a back disorder, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, right knee disorder, and bilateral hearing loss due to potential errors in adjudication.

The Board denied service connection for scoliosis and DDD with IVDS, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing conditions did not worsen during service or are unrelated to service.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of appendectomy are found to have caused her current bowel perforation and associated ileus, which in turn led to joint pain disorders. The appeal is granted for both the bowel perforation and related secondary joint pain disorders.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's low back disability is related to his active service, including a reported incident of being knocked off a tank and strenuous activities as a T. O. W. missile gunner.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral vascular disease and his request for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus and headaches were denied as service connection due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between the conditions and service.,Service connection for anxiety/depression was also denied, with no mention of any specific in-service event or exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine prior to September 15, 2015 due to inadequate support for the Board's determination that a higher rating was not warranted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's PTSD, left hip disability, and hearing loss. The specific conditions remain unresolved.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of various knee, shoulder, elbow, and back disabilities have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection of right shoulder, left shoulder, right elbow, left elbow, low back, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities have also been dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current evidence of a disability.,The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied as the functional effects are already contemplated by the rating criteria.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.,Service connection was also denied for various conditions, including a back disability, left foot disability, chronic body tremors, arteriovenous malformation, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD).

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back and left knee disabilities as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability due to incomplete VA opinions. The Veteran's abnormal gait is noted in both medical records.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings and service connection for low back muscle strain, left knee condition, and right wrist condition. The claims are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous remand orders and additional development is required.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left and right upper extremity radiculopathy, cervical spine stenosis, and lumbar degenerative disc disease, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's right knee disability with limitation of extension is not rated higher than the currently assigned 20 percent prior to January 7, 2021 and noncompensable since that date.,The Veteran's patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee does not warrant a rating in excess of the current 10 percent.,The Veteran's left knee disability with limitation of extension is not rated higher than the currently assigned 10 percent.,The Veteran's patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee does not warrant a rating in excess of the current 10 percent.,The Veteran's low back disability does not warrant a rating in excess of the current 10 percent.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable due to the presence of a margin of error in audiometric testing.,The Veteran's radiculopathy and back conditions are remanded for additional examination to address flare-ups, functional impairment during flare-ups, and whether they meet the criteria for ankylosis.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection claims were denied. The effective date of the increased rating for back disability was not earlier than July 31, 2018. Service connection claims for TBI, muscle contraction headaches with small vascular component, PTSD, and right shoulder acromioclavicular joint separation were also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete record development regarding his cervical spine disability, memory loss, and fatigue.