Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, ankle, knee, hip, elbow, shoulder, and low back disabilities. The appeal is being remanded due to inadequate or incomplete previous examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for Hypertension and Degenerative Disc Disease of the Cervical Spine, finding that these conditions are secondary to other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar and cervical spine osteoarthritis due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of clear and unmistakable evidence regarding pre-existing spinal canal stenosis.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a new VA examination to evaluate the Veteran's back condition. The claim will be readjudicated after obtaining all necessary records.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at the maximum allowed, and a higher rating for limitation of extension is denied.,A separate evaluation of moderate instability is granted. A higher evaluation for instability is not warranted due to the amputation rule.

The Board denied an increased rating for rosacea and denied service connection for hypertension and a low back disorder. The Veteran's skin disability was rated at 10 percent, but the Board found no evidence of systemic therapy or systemic manifestations warranting a higher rating. For hypertension, the Board determined there was no in-service diagnosis and no current manifestation meeting VA criteria for hypertension. For the low back disorder, the Board found no service connection due to lack of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, as well as radiculopathy of the right lower extremity. The reasons for this are that the most recent VA examination was conducted almost eleven years ago, which is deemed insufficient given the potential worsening of the conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is related to his service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disability and right and left shoulder disabilities, have been remanded due to the need for further development.,An effective date earlier than March 2, 2006 for the grant of service connection for lumbar spine disability is denied.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including low back disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and right hip disorder. The decision also noted that the Veteran's right ear hearing loss had its onset in service.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a status post closed fracture of the left clavicle and an upper back disability due to outstanding VA treatment records being located in Vista Imaging.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his low back disability was denied as the evidence did not show that his forward flexion or combined range of motion met the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection for GERD was also denied because there is clear and unmistakable evidence that the condition preexisted service and did not worsen during service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of a low back disorder and a psychiatric disorder, leading to the dismissal of these claims.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for additional development, including obtaining retrospective opinions on passive range of motion at prior examinations.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death prior to a final decision. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for a lower back disability and remanded the issue of service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a secondary relationship between his current condition and his service-connected disabilities.

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

The Veteran's right fifth finger disability is not rated higher than noncompensable due to lack of limitation of motion or ankylosis.,Service connection for a low back disability was denied as the condition did not originate in service.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service connected. The neck and back conditions are remanded for further examination.