Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his back disability and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity was partially granted, with restoration of a 20 percent rating for radiculopathy of the RLE effective February 12, 2020. The rating for IVDS with degenerative arthritis changes remains denied.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability rating from 20 percent to 10 percent effective April 1, 2020 was proper and denied the request for restoration of the original 20 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine with DDD and cervical spondylosis, and left shoulder strain with impingement syndrome.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of tuberculosis, chronic lumbar spine disorder, residuals of bilateral trench foot, and a chronic headache disorder have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or continuity of symptoms. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of medical evidence supporting his assertions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, tremor right upper extremity, and tremor left lower extremity. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for a current disability as defined by VA regulations.,Service connection was also denied for erectile dysfunction.

Service connection is granted for thrombosis of the left axillary and subclavian vein. The Board also finds that service connection is warranted for degenerative joint disease of the right ankle, left ankle, left shoulder, right shoulder, epicondylitis of the left elbow, epicondylitis of the right elbow, degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine. Service connection was not granted for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, left lower extremity, right upper extremity, or left upper extremity.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection has been denied. The initial rating for other specified trauma and stress-related disorder remains at 30 percent, right ankle residuals remain noncompensable, and there is no evidence of a compensable rating for the remaining conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a back disability is denied.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy, as well as left and right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy are all denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 10% rating for allergic rhinitis is denied.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU (Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability) is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a back and left knee disability as they relate to service connection due to an error in obtaining a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine DISH, lumbar spondylosis, facet arthropathy, and cervical hyperostosis on a presumptive basis due to in-service injuries during military training duties in Alaska. Service connection for cervical hyperostosis was also granted.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosis conforming to VA regulations.,Service connection for Persistent Depressive Disorder was granted based on the competent and probative evidence showing it is related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's lower back condition is related to service-connected tendinitis of the left iliopsoas, either directly or as secondary.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than October 2, 2013, for the grant of service connection for a lumbar spine disability. The decision found that no valid claim was filed prior to this date.

The appellant withdrew her appeals for all issues related to the grant of service connection and increased initial ratings for various nerve conditions. The Board dismissed these appeals as a result.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of thoracic spine degenerative joint disease, bilateral hearing loss disability, and headaches due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's former attorney, A.N., is owed some money for representing him. However, the amount of $13,236.56 awarded in past-due benefits is contested by the Veteran as unreasonable. The Board has decided to remand this issue due to a lack of presumed reasonableness given that A.N. was not represented until after the November 2019 decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back condition has been denied as there is no medical evidence showing a nexus between the Veteran's current back condition and his military service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck condition has been denied as there is no medical evidence showing a nexus between the Veteran's current neck condition and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar disability, unspecified depressive disorder with anxious features, and various radiculopathies of the upper and lower extremities, as well as cervical spine disability, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial evaluations of her DDD of the cervical spine, LUE radiculopathy, RUE radiculopathy, and nephrolithiasis are all considered. The Board has not fully addressed the issues related to service connection for tremors (LUE and RUE), as no NOD was submitted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his lumbar spine compression fracture with degenerative disc disease and hip disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's claims for compensable ratings for left hip limitation of extension, right hip limitation of extension, and left hip limitation of flexion are also being remanded.