Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and left knee, right knee degenerative arthritis have been rated at 20 percent and 10 percent respectively. The Board found no evidence to warrant increased ratings under the applicable criteria.,The Veteran reported constant pain in his knees with flare-ups that limit activities of daily living.

The Veteran's left eye disability is rated at 30 percent prior to September 7, 2017, and 50 percent thereafter. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 60 percent.,Both conditions are rated based on their direct service connection without any presumption or secondary theory of service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar scoliosis with lumbar strain was restored to a 20 percent rating effective January 1, 2017.,Since March 16, 2017, the Veteran received an additional 10 percent rating for radiculopathy of the left leg associated with his lumbar spine disability.

Your appeals for increased ratings for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities have been dismissed due to your withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions to determine if the Veteran's left knee, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disorders are related to his military service.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and has remanded the issue of entitlement to TDIU based on this disability. The case is now before the Board again, with additional development needed.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of lumbar spine disorder, right and left lower extremity sciatic nerve disorders due to their grant in prior rating decisions. The Board also granted increased ratings for right and left knee instability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, left ankle recurrent sprain, TBI, and headaches were denied. The claim to reopen service connection for low back disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and right ankle disorder was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for neck, back, right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for consideration on an extraschedular basis due to the lack of schedular criteria prior to December 17, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain an addendum opinion from an orthopedist regarding whether his low back disability is at least as likely as not secondary to his service-connected bilateral foot and ankle disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral elbow disability and remanded the issue of service connection for a lumbar spine disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's lay statements regarding his military activities are considered, but further examination is required to determine if his current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for asthma and low back condition due to insufficient development of evidence regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service.,Service connection is also denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder, likely PTSD, as the Veteran's statements regarding onset are inconsistent with medical records.

The Board granted a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's back condition, effective from August 18, 2015. The decision was based on the January 2023 VA examiner's opinion that the Veteran had moderate severity of the back condition prior to October 18, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his carpal tunnel syndrome, hiatal hernia (GERD), back injury, and chalazion. The issues are related to whether these conditions are related to service or if they have been aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disorders. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a low back disability, and the Board will consider this de novo.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for back and right shoulder disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a rating in excess of 10 percent or 20 percent, respectively.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased rating due to failure of the Veteran to appear for VA examinations. The matter is being returned for further action.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that the conditions are not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability.