Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for a separate rating for urinary incontinence and entitlement to TDIU due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether urinary incontinence is a neurological manifestation of the service-connected low back disability. The Veteran will need to be scheduled for another VA examination with a urologist.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right ankle fracture and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with spondylosis due to inadequate VA examination reports. Additional evidence is needed, including treatment records and a new VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine disorder and a respiratory disorder, finding that there was no evidence of chronic disability during or within one year after service. The Board also found that any current cervical spine disorder is not related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant VA and private treatment records and scheduling a VA orthopedic examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's initial ratings for left and right leg disabilities are granted at 20 percent. A 40 percent rating is granted for the back disability from July 1, 2013.

The Veteran's frontal lobe tumor and spinal stenosis of the lumbar spine are being remanded for further examination and opinion.,An increased rating in excess of 50 percent for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for low back, right upper extremity, and left upper extremity disabilities have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his left ankle disability has also been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection for osteoarthritis of the right hip and left hip.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted a 20 percent rating effective June 22, 2012. A higher rating for the period prior to July 17, 2017 is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his request for a higher initial rating.,The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for PTSD with parasomnia is denied.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection of lumbar spine disability due to a full grant of benefits. The Veteran's left hip disabilities were rated appropriately, and no higher ratings are warranted based on flexion or thigh impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied due to lack of evidence showing in-service incurrence or aggravation.,Service connection for tinnitus is denied as the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that it began during active duty or is related to noise exposure.,Service connection for a neck disorder is denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to service, and the Veteran's current diagnosis is attributed to natural aging process rather than in-service injury.,Service connection for hypertension is denied due to lack of evidence showing in-service incurrence or aggravation.,Service connection for a right knee disorder is denied as there is no evidence showing it began during active duty or is related to noise exposure.,Service connection for left knee disability is granted with a 20% rating effective from November 14, 2016.,Service connection for lumbar spine disability is denied due to lack of evidence showing in-service incurrence or aggravation.,Service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is granted with a 10% rating effective from June 11, 2018.,Service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is denied as there is no evidence showing it began during active duty or is related to noise exposure.,Service connection for somatic symptom disorder with predominant pain is granted with a rating in excess of 70% effective from November 14, 2016.

The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that this rating does not meet his claim for a higher rating.,His right ear hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable (0 percent), and the Board has reopened his claim of service connection for left ear hearing loss based on new evidence. However, he does not have service-connected left ear hearing loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a neck condition and a low back condition, finding that there is no evidence to support the contention that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with prior remand directives. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is being remanded for an addendum VA examination to address service connection on a direct basis and secondary to his service-connected left leg disability.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to incomplete records. The Veteran's lung disorder and lumbar spine disability claims are still under review.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for back and right shoulder disabilities have been withdrawn. The Board has also remanded the claim for an initial increased rating in excess of 70 percent for persistent depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, and requests that an addendum opinion be provided regarding the baseline level of disability prior to aggravation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and degenerative arthritis of the spine and spinal fusion, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus type II, chronic low back disorder, and malaria due to procedural issues and need for further development.