Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, right hip, and left hip disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions on direct and secondary service connection for low back disability. The Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service symptoms and post-service pain are to be considered, along with VA examination findings.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has decided to remand the case for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected unspecified depressive disorder is dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal to reopen the claim of service connection for costochondritis is also dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine and right hip conditions due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset during active duty or as a result of a motor vehicle accident in the line of duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disorder is secondary to his service-connected lumbar sprain, bilateral radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and left hip bursitis. The examiner must provide a new opinion addressing proximate causation and aggravation for each of these conditions.

The Veteran's back condition, which includes lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome, has been rated at 20 percent since the appeal period began. The Board found that the evidence did not show forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, ankylosis of the lumbar spine, or incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least four weeks during the past 12 months. Therefore, the claim for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current back disability. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical records and a new opinion is needed.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral foot disabilities due to lack of compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a dental disability and a back disability, finding no current diagnosis of either condition and insufficient evidence to link them to active service.

The Veteran's status post right inguinal herniorrhaphy with scars is granted a 30 percent rating.,Prior to March 14, 2014, the Veteran's low back benign intradermal inclusion cysts are granted a 20 percent rating. Since March 14, 2014, the Veteran's low back benign intradermal inclusion cysts are granted a 30 percent rating.

The application to reopen the claims for cervical spine disability, bilateral foot disability (to include pes planus), bilateral hearing loss, IBS, and lumbar spine disability is granted.,The applications to reopen the claims for cervical spine disability, bilateral foot disability (to include pes planus), bilateral hearing loss, IBS, and lumbar spine disability are remanded.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected degenerative joint disease lumbar spine. The Board has dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent prior to October 24, 2019. The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for the left and right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with the lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a gastrointestinal disability (other than gastroesophageal reflux disease) is denied. The claims for increased ratings of lumbar spine, right knee chondromalacia with quadriceps and popliteal tendinopathy and osteoarthritis, left knee chondromalacia with quadriceps and popliteal tendinopathy and osteoarthritis, and right knee meniscal tear are all denied. The Veteran's service-connected residual scars, bilateral gynecomastia, status post liposuction and bilateral subcutaneous mastectomy, and residual scars of the anterior trunk and chest do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional medical opinions regarding his lumbar spine, cervical spine, and left knee disabilities. The issues include determining if these conditions are related to service or secondary to other service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability due to new evidence and an updated opinion.

The Veteran's chest scar as a residual of a stab wound, right ear hearing loss disability, back disability, bilateral hip replacements, and supraventricular arrhythmia, AICD, and valvular heart disease with mitral and tricuspid regurgitation are all granted. The claims for service connection have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's right femur fracture and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine are being remanded for further evaluation. The left knee chondromalacia claim is also pending.