Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and the rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left knee patellofemoral syndrome, but granted a separate 10 percent disability rating for instability of the left knee from May 23, 2012.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's in-service experiences in Vietnam are related to his current condition.,Service connection for a low back disorder and acid reflux and sleep apnea secondary to PTSD have also been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed conditions and their relationship to service. The claims include service connection for left calf, knee, lumbosacral spine, lower extremity radiculopathy, and any acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, eye disability, and psychiatric disability (depression). The Veteran's lumbar spine condition is not related to his service. His diabetes mellitus, type II, was not shown within one year of separation from service. His eye disabilities are not related to service or a service-connected condition. His depression is considered as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.,The Board also denied service connection for hypertension and remanded the issue.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed for the Veteran's cervical spine condition, lumbar spine condition, and hypertension claims due to insufficient medical evidence of record. The Veteran asserts her conditions began in service and are related to exposure during active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to additional medical records being added to his case file since the most recent Supplemental Statements of the Case (SSOC).

The Board has remanded the issue of an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for major depressive disorder, but denied the TDIU claim as the Veteran was employed full-time prior to March 20, 2019.

The Veteran's disability rating for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease was restored to 40 percent effective July 1, 2020.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as they are not related to service.,Degenerative Disc Disease of the Neck (previously characterized as spondylolysis L-5 on S-1) and Degenerative Disc Disease of the Back were remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that would support a grant of service connection. The Veteran's current hearing loss is not related to his military service.,Service connection for degenerative disc disease of the neck and back was remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as they are not related to service.,Degenerative Disc Disease of the Neck (previously characterized as spondylolysis L-5 on S-1) and Degenerative Disc Disease of the Back were remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for lower lumbar neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, as well as an increased rating for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, has been dismissed. The Veteran was granted TDIU.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD have been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for IBS and GERD have been denied as they are not service-connected.,The Veteran's claim for lumbar radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities has been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as they are not related to service.,Degenerative Disc Disease of the Neck (previously characterized as spondylolysis L-5 on S-1) and Degenerative Disc Disease of the Back were remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition, including a thoracolumbar spine condition. The decision is based on new evidence submitted by the Veteran and finds that his current chronic low back pain is related to an in-service fall.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for intervertebral disc syndrome with spinal stenosis and lumbar spondylosis is denied. The claims for effective date of service connection for a superficial residual surgical scar, SMC at the (r)(1) level based on need for aid and attendance due to low back disability and urinary/fecal incontinence, and SMC at the (r)(2) level based on need for regular aid and attendance are granted.

The Veteran's service connection for urinary incontinence and loss of bowel control secondary to her low back disability is granted. The Veteran's low back disability, characterized as intervertebral disc syndrome, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are not rated higher than the current assigned ratings.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disorder and denied initial ratings for headache disorder, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, and lumbar spinal degenerative disc disease. The Veteran's headaches are rated at 10% from May 1, 2015, but the claim is denied for higher ratings. The cervical and lumbar spine conditions do not meet criteria for initial rating higher than 10%. Service connection was not granted due to lack of a diagnosed heart disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity sciatica are currently rated at 10 percent prior to September 9, 2020 and 20 percent after that date. The Board denied a higher rating for the right and left lower extremity sciatica.,For the left lower extremity, the Veteran's disability is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board found no evidence of moderately severe incomplete paralysis, warranting a higher rating.