Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his chronic headaches, thoracolumbar spine DDD, and lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted. The specific rating assigned varies based on the date of onset or progression of each condition.

The Board has found that the VA examinations are inadequate and remands both claims for further development.

The Veteran's right hip osteoarthritis was granted service connection and an effective date of the grant is set.,An effective date prior to February 5, 2018 for the grant of service connection for tension headaches is denied. The Veteran submitted a formal claim on April 27, 2018.,The Veteran's initial claims for left ear hearing loss and back disability are remanded as his current level or nature of these disabilities may not be reflective of the evidence of record.,The Veteran's neck disability is also remanded as his current level or nature of this disability may not be reflective of the evidence of record.,The Veteran's initial claim for tension headaches is remanded as his current level or nature of this disability may not be reflective of the evidence of record.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability to include degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his degenerative changes of the lumbar spine were remanded due to inadequate medical examinations and failure to consider functional loss during flare-ups or after repetitive use.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent from October 13, 2009 to March 6, 2015. The rating for the back disability remains at 40 percent during the entire period on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for a back condition as the evidence did not show it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right and left knees, as well as TDIU prior to January 29, 2015.,The case is being remanded due to additional evidence received without a waiver and because of an October 2020 Joint Motion for Partial Remand (JMPR) regarding meniscus pathology in the knees.

The Board dismissed all withdrawn issues related to PTSD, bilateral shoulder disabilities, pinguecula, and other conditions. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 70% for the period prior to May 6, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, nor is his lumbar spine disability related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete examination and records, requiring further development including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, finding that these conditions began during active service.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The Board found the evidence in equipoise as to whether the Veteran experienced bilateral pes planus, right knee disability, left knee disability, and back disability during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and a back disability due to insufficient information in the record. The Veteran must provide his military personnel records, VA treatment records from January 2021 to present, and any outstanding private treatment records. A VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran was involved in a motor vehicle accident in service and/or has the requisite service at Camp Lejeune. If so, an examiner will need to provide opinions on whether his right shoulder and back disabilities are related to active service, including due to the motor vehicle accident and contaminated water exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete verification of the Veteran's duty status and travel during a motor vehicle accident in April 1967.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for the service-connected lumbosacral spine disability, finding that the current limitation of motion does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine and lumbar DJD was denied. The issue of service connection for a skin disorder other than jungle rot is being remanded.,The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also being remanded due to its inextricability with the skin disorder claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including low back pain, PTSD, headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic sinusitis, dermatitis, gall bladder removal, and GERD. The appeals are currently pending.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at 30% and denied an increased rating.,Prior to October 7, 2019, the Veteran was not found unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's dorso lumbar spine disability was denied increased ratings in excess of 20 percent prior to March 5, 2012 and from March 5, 2012 onwards.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability was denied increased ratings in excess of 20 percent prior to January 23, 2020 and from January 23, 2020 onwards.