Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an eye disorder, lumbar spine strain, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome are remanded due to insufficient opinions in the previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent, effective September 14, 2017. Effective dates for separate compensable ratings for radiculopathy of the right internal saphenous nerve, obturator nerve, external cutaneous nerve, and ilio-inguinal nerve are denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to a lack of adequate discussion regarding flare-ups during the VA examination.

The Veteran's back condition, Parkinson’s disease, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression), and eye condition are all granted service connection. However, the VA has not provided sufficient evidence to determine if his neck and knee conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's dental condition was granted service connection as it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected myofascial pain syndrome dysfunction.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and trace nuclear sclerosis of the bilateral eye lenses were denied due to lack of current disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance are being remanded due to the need for new examinations.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of a left foot disability is granted. His claim for a compensable initial rating for allergic rhinitis remains denied, and the issues of service connection for right knee disability, back disability, and respiratory disability are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of plantar warts, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied. The remaining claims are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of various conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete service records and the need for additional examinations. The Veteran's lung condition, low back disability, status post left below knee amputation, and status post bowel resection are all in question.

The RO has restored the Veteran's 40% disability rating for service-connected lumbar degenerative joint disease with lumbar disc herniation, effective May 1, 2020. The issues of increased ratings and earlier effective dates remain pending.

The Board has granted service connection for temporal lobe syndrome with ischemic brain damage, depressive disorder with anxiety and sleep disorder, and lumbar spine disorder, all of which are found to be related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a 20% rating for lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, and the Veteran's claims for service connection of right wrist tendonitis and genitourinary condition as secondary to his low back disability were not addressed due to insufficient medical evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar spine disability and anxiety disorder, rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's left knee disorder, right foot onychomycosis, and service-connected coronary artery disease were granted. The issues of service connection for arteriosclerosis, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral eye disorder, bilateral hip disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, cervical disorder, headache disorder, low back disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, vertigo, dental disorder, obesity, and left foot onychomycosis are dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee, left knee, and back disabilities, finding that these conditions are proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, costochondritis, tonsillitis, low back disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, left lower extremity disorder, rhinitis, sinusitis, and headaches have been denied. The case is remanded for additional development in regard to these issues.,An effective date prior to June 30, 2016 for the award of service connection for tinnitus has not been granted.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle, right ankle, left knee, and low back disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of degenerative disc disease was denied in August 1994 and again in October 2008. The claim was reopened in May 2013, with the effective date set at August 30, 2011. The Board found that an earlier effective date is not warranted due to the finality of the October 2008 rating decision.