Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine was denied. The claims for an initial compensable rating for plantar warts of the left foot and service connection for hammer toes of the right foot were remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for right knee, low back, and right hip conditions related to his service-connected left knee disability are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports.,A new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's left knee instability and determine if it has caused or aggravated any other conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and inadequate opinions regarding his claimed back condition and bilateral knee conditions. The AOJ is required to obtain additional records, notify the Veteran of unavailable records, and schedule examinations to address these issues.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that caused the current condition. The Board also found no secondary service connection due to bilateral pes planus. The Veteran's claim was denied as there is insufficient medical evidence linking his current low back disorder to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to additional development being needed.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was denied increased ratings in excess of 10 percent for the period prior to November 21, 2016, and in excess of 20 percent from January 1, 2017, to September 3, 2020. The case is remanded due to additional development needed.

The Board has granted service connection for the aggravation of obstructive sleep apnea by the Veteran's service-connected back and knee conditions. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU based on his inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's cervical spine DJD received a 20% rating from December 12, 2011 to January 28, 2014. The entire period saw a 20% rating for the left upper extremity radiculopathy and a 70% rating for major depressive disorder. A TDIU was granted starting from January 27, 2019.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 50 percent, and the effective date for his bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy ratings has been set at December 1, 2014. The Veteran's TDIU claim has also been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is related to service, granting service connection for lumbosacral strain.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine injury, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right eye disability (glaucoma), left eye disability (glaucoma), respiratory disability (asthma), chronic disabilities of the upper and lower extremities, hemorrhoids, leukemia, and high cholesterol. The decision also remanded service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his death.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including new examinations and medical opinions to address the issues of service connection for various conditions.

The Board has remanded several claims, including those for hepatitis C and its secondary conditions, as well as the bilateral knee disability and back/neck disabilities. The TDIU claim is also deferred due to being inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected disabilities is granted. The rating in excess of 10 percent prior to February 24, 2020, for a lumbar spine disability remains remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the ratings for the Veteran's service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction was denied. The Board found the evidence against a finding that his ED is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. For TDIU, the Veteran was granted from April 30, 2014 to present due to combined disability rating of 70 percent and not meeting schedular criteria prior to February 6, 2013.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral shoulder disability, and back disability due to insufficient development. The Veteran's service connection claims are not granted as there is no evidence of a current disability related to his in-service noise exposure or injury.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back condition, hemorrhoids, and sciatica due to new evidence received since the last denial. The Veteran's lay testimony will be considered in determining the etiology of his conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, left subacromial/subdeltoid bursitis and left acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and cervical intervertebral disc syndrome and cervical degenerative disc disease and myelomalacia due to these conditions being proximately due or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.