Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions. The effective date of any grant is not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance, warranting special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance. The housebound criteria are dismissed as moot.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including erectile dysfunction, bilateral hearing loss, swelling of the face, bilateral knee disability, varicose veins, blood clots, and a back disability. The remand requires additional medical examinations and records review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including depression, lumbar spine disability, intervertebral osteochondrosis, C3-C4, C6-C7, bilateral hearing loss, parotid gland neoplasm, and peripheral neuropathy have been granted with effective dates of May 20, 2011.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression has also been granted with an effective date of January 30, 2009.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, diagnosed as degenerative disc disease, was granted a 10 percent initial rating for the period from August 15, 1968 to March 3, 1999.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy were denied increased ratings. The effective date for the 20 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied, as was a prior effective date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic prostatitis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis from December 15, 2005.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased disability rating for hearing loss and service connection for right eye glaucoma. The Board granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that there is an approximate balance of evidence supporting a link between the condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases of low back disorder, respiratory disorder, dental disorders involving teeth #11 and #18, left hand disorder, and psychiatric disorder for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's rehabilitation plan and vocational rehabilitation services need to be reviewed due to her request for a change in her long-term goal from obtaining an engineering degree to pursuing a medical doctorate. The discontinuance of her VR&E services was also challenged, and both issues are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to incomplete VAMC treatment records, inadequate VA examinations, and other issues.

The Board denied service connection for a left eye disability, finding that the Veteran's preexisting eye condition did not worsen during service and was not related to any in-service injury or disease.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability was also denied. The Board found no evidence of chronic low back symptoms in service, nor did they manifest within a presumptive period following separation from service. The Veteran's current diagnoses were noted more than a decade after his separation and do not show continuity of symptomatology since service.,The Board denied service connection for sciatic neuropathy of the right lower extremity, concluding that there was no evidence of chronic symptoms in service or within a presumptive period following separation from service. The Veteran's current diagnoses were noted more than a decade after his separation and do not show continuity of symptomatology since service.

Service connection for a neck condition is denied. The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease (DDD) was not incurred or caused by his active duty service.,The Veteran's left ear hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable, with the most severe level being Level VII under Table VI of VA rating criteria.,A rating in excess of 40 percent for a low back disability is denied. The weight of evidence does not support finding that the Veteran has unfavorable ankylosis or required prescribed bed rest to treat his back disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding all issues on appeal, including increased ratings and service connection claims.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar paravertebral myositis was denied as the disability does not meet the criteria for ankylosis, which would allow for a higher rating.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his service-connected cervical spine degenerative disc disease is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and hypertension. The Board found that the Veteran's current disabilities did not begin during his active service or are otherwise related to an in-service event, injury, or disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to August 28, 2013, and in excess of 60 percent from August 28, 2013 to February 5, 2016, and in excess of 40 percent from February 6, 2016, forward, for service-connected thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease. The remand also includes the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to September 29, 2015.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's low back disorder. The case will be returned to the examiner to address the Veteran’s contentions, including his symptoms and history, as well as statements from his spouse and Dr. H.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.