Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD, right ankle disability, and lumbar spine disability. Service connection was granted for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. His lumbar strain with degenerative changes and pseudofolliculitis barbae were also evaluated, but no new issues or appeals were raised.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations for his lumbar spine disability was denied. The criteria for higher ratings were not met prior to October 12, 2020, and from that date, the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 40 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including back disorder, bilateral knee disorders, radiculopathy of upper and lower extremities, skin disorder, and jaw disorder. The appeal is being returned to obtain additional VA treatment records and to provide a medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for frostbite of the left and right feet were denied, but his claim for low back pain was granted.,Service connection was established for low back pain, with a finding that it began during service.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of fractured lumbar spine and left leg radiculopathy, but denied service connection for a right hip disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disability and cervical radiculopathy, but denied service connection for the Veteran's low back condition as secondary to his right shoulder disability.

The Veteran is granted TDIU prior to December 19, 2016. The appeal for the period from December 19, 2016, to July 1, 2018, is dismissed as moot due to SMC at a rate under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s). TDIU on or after July 1, 2018, remains pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral ankle disorder due to inadequate opinions from VA examiners regarding the Veteran's statements of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient consideration of his lay statements and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his thoracolumbar spine IVDS and bilateral lumbar radiculopathy was partially granted, with the effective date set at January 1, 2020. The Veteran is now rated at 40 percent for his thoracolumbar spine IVDS since that date.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a back disability, a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss, and TDIU prior to June 6, 2019 due to incomplete information in the medical records requests.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability, finding that his current condition is not related to his military service and is more likely due to aging.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including lumbar spine, thoracic spine, and cervical spine disabilities, gastrointestinal disability, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, liver disability, prostate disability (including prostate cancer), and respiratory disability. The claims are related to exposure at Camp Lejeune contaminated water.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development on the issues of increased ratings for lumbar spine conditions and service connection for a bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back disability and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, as well as a request for an earlier effective date for TDIU, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on range of motion or other criteria.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disorders due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection is denied for hypertension as there is no competent medical evidence showing a link between current hypertension and service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for partial neurogenic bladder was granted. The rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy prior to October 10, 2018 and low back disability prior to October 10, 2018 were denied.