Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran claims service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine. The Board finds that remand is necessary to provide an adequate medical opinion considering the Veteran's reports of chronicity of symptoms since service and statements from his niece, stepdaughter, and former chiropractor.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbosacral strain and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is required to provide additional private treatment records, and a VA examination must be conducted to determine if his conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that it is proximately due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for radiculopathy of bilateral lower extremities and TDIU prior to September 9, 2010 was denied. The Board found that there were no pending claims for these issues prior to September 9, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is proximately due to his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and bilateral hallux valgus of feet, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss but has remanded the issue of service connection for lumbar spine disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee chondromalacia with degenerative joint disease and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from November 27, 2012. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative discogenic disease of the lumbar spine, right knee arthritis, and left knee arthritis have been granted.,The Board found that the evidence established a nexus between the Veteran's current conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis and muscle strain of the lumbar spine does not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent, as his forward flexion is no less than 40 degrees throughout the appeal period.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran sustained additional disability as a result of his October 2016 VA RFA surgical procedure and if such disability is related to carelessness, negligence or similar incidence of fault on the part of the attending VA personnel.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for thoracolumbar spine strain, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 20 percent, and separate ratings for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities are granted.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his thoracolumbar spine and left lower extremity disabilities were denied, with the exception of a separate 20 percent rating granted for left lower extremity femoral nerve impairment.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the claim of entitlement to a total disability rating for individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, and onychomycosis due to additional VA medical records and examinations being needed.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings and restoration of a rating have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's appeal for TDIU has also been withdrawn.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for surgical scar status post lumbar laminectomy and diskectomy prior to March 6, 2020, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back disability and bilateral knee disorders due to inadequate VA examination findings, outstanding private treatment records, and recently amended rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA examination, and the Veteran's assertion that he was not contacted for scheduling an examination.

The Board has ordered remand for further development regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral leg condition, low back condition, and bilateral ankle condition. The VA medical opinions do not consider all relevant evidence including the Veteran's contentions of continuous problems since service.