Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

A 20 percent rating (but no higher) for lumbar spine strain and facet joint arthritis with IVDS involving the left L3-S1 nerve roots is granted effective April 16, 2017.,Ratings in excess of 20 percent for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity are denied throughout the appeal period.

The petition to reopen the claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Veteran's left index finger disability, erectile dysfunction, right knee disability, irritable bowel syndrome, hypertension, lumbar myositis, and left knee patellar tendonitis (post-AACL repair) are all remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5243 for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and he was also denied a higher rating for his right leg radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee degenerative arthritis and lumbar spine DDD with radiculopathy to obtain additional medical opinions regarding their etiology. The issues are related to service connection on a secondary basis.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated treatment records and a new VA examination. The case will be remanded to issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Veteran's right hip DJD is granted service connection and the claims for increased ratings of lumbar DDD, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided in this case is inadequate and requires further action, including obtaining an addendum opinion by an Orthopedist (M.D.) to address all of the Veteran's lay statements regarding his back condition.

The Veteran's appeal is partially granted with some issues being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient rationale provided by VA examiners regarding the nature of his L5 pars defect and its relationship to his lumbar spine disorders. The case is returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection has been dismissed due to their death. The issues related to sciatica and DDD have also been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for her lumbar spine disability and for ratings in excess of 10 percent each for both right and left lower extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate VA examination records and failure to discuss these issues in the previous decision.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the claim for service connection for a back disability is remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar disability secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disability and for PTSD. The Veteran is now entitled to a rating of 20 percent for limitation of motion due to functional impairment of the left knee.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support the claim and concluding that the current condition is not related to active service.

The Veteran's hearing loss is not rated compensably, as his hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,Service connection for a back condition and bone degeneration are denied. The Board finds that these conditions did not onset in service or are otherwise related to service exposure.,Service connection for fatty liver is denied. The Veteran's fatty liver is not linked to his service, including exposures at Camp Lejeune or asbestos.,The Veteran's back condition began post-service and was not shown to be related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition, finding that there is not an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence to support a nexus between his current low back condition and his military service.

The appeal for service connection for hepatitis C has been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal. The appeals for increased rating for anxiety and depression, service connection for low back disorder, knee disorders, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus are all remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for her thoracolumbar spine levoscoliosis with degenerative arthritis is denied. The case is remanded for further development regarding the issue of entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted as service-connected due to a congenital defect superimposed by an in-service injury. The thoracolumbar spine disorder claim is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for lumbarization, finding that it is a congenital defect and not subject to service connection.