Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left ankle disorder, low back disorder, and left hip disorder due to a lack of compliance with previous directives.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and adjudication due to inconsistencies in the medical opinions regarding the Veteran's chronic left shoulder and low back pain over the years, as well as his ongoing duties.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher disability rating for his lower back condition was denied. However, the Board granted a 40% disability rating effective March 28, 2017, based on worsening symptoms.

The Board has remanded four issues for further development: initial evaluation for a back disability, service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to a back disability, service connection for a right knee disability, and service connection for a left knee disability. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed due to the lack of adequate medical opinions regarding his disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his thoracolumbar-spine disorder, right-lower-extremity radiculopathy, and left-lower-extremity radiculopathy have been denied. The Veteran also had a claim for TDIU which was denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine, lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left foot disorders. The VA is requested to obtain expert opinions on these issues.

Service connection is granted for left calf cramp and pain disability.,Service connection is granted for right calf cramp and pain disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome and arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, as well as radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves of the lower extremities. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are currently rated at 90 percent combined.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and no higher rating is warranted.,For the period from February 10, 2016 through October 10, 2017, the Veteran was granted a 40 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. Since then, his disability has not warranted an increased rating.

The Veteran's lower back disability, bilateral foot disorder (including paresthesias), and patellofemoral syndrome of the knees have been granted service connection.,New evidence has reopened claims for these conditions.

Service connection for skin cancer is granted. Service connection for back condition and left shoulder scarring/disfigurement are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran did not have a chronic low back disability in service or within one year of separation. The Board also found no credible evidence of continuity of symptoms since service and concluded that any current low back disability is less likely than not related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining outstanding records and scheduling VA examinations. The issues include rating his service-connected disabilities of the back and upper extremities, as well as a claim for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left metatarsalgia, degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc disorder, radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the right lower extremity, radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the femoral nerve of the right and left lower extremities due to inadequate remand actions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder, finding that there is no evidence of current disability related to service or an in-service injury. The VA examiner concluded that any current arthritis-related diagnoses were not shown as chronic in service and are not otherwise noted with attributable continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the cervical spine is denied. The Board found that there were no earlier claims upon which an earlier effective date could be granted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for arthritis of the left thumb was dismissed as she stated satisfaction with the current rating.,The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings from March 6, 2020, for DDD of the lumbar spine, plantar fasciitis of the bilateral feet, and migraine headaches were also dismissed due to her satisfaction with the current ratings.

The Board has ordered additional development for the issues of entitlement to a compensable rating for hypogeusia, service connection for a neck disorder, service connection for a back disorder, service connection for a right knee disorder, and service connection for chronic right leg numbness. The Veteran will be scheduled for an examination to determine the current severity of his hypogeusia and medical opinions will be obtained regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for urinary incontinence, a back condition, pelvic pain, and recurring sebaceous cysts. The cases are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.