Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's original claim for bilateral ear condition was denied in January 1980. New and material evidence has been submitted to reopen this claim.,The issue of whether new and material evidence has been submitted sufficient to reopen a claim for entitlement to service connection for a bilateral foot disability is remanded.,The Veteran's low back disability, including degenerative disc disease and spondylosis at L5-S1, is remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's neck disability, including cervical spondylosis and cervical, thoracic, and lumbar lordosis, is remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's neuropathy and/or radiculopathy of the right upper extremity is remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's neuropathy and/or radiculopathy of the left upper extremity is remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's neuropathy and/or radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's neuropathy and/or radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that there was insufficient compliance with its prior remand and the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability must be remanded again. The VA examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion considering all available evidence, including the Veteran's lay statements, hearing testimony, post-service medical records, and other pertinent evidence.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease with disc protrusion are all denied initial ratings in excess of the currently assigned ratings.,Higher initial ratings for these conditions are not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to additional relevant evidence being associated with the Veteran's claims file. The issues of service connection for back disability and entitlement to a TDIU are now pending.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to a lack of compliance with prior remand instructions regarding a VA examination by a neurosurgeon.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for thoracolumbar strain prior to January 1, 2012 has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal.

The Board has restored a 20 percent rating for scoliosis with lumbosacral strain, finding that the reduction from 20 percent to 10 percent was not proper due to lack of improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a low back disability was dismissed due to his death before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and incomplete information about his periods of active duty service. The claims will be reviewed again with additional development.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to assess his ability to work given his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar spine brace causes wear and tear to his clothing, which qualifies him for a clothing allowance for the 2019 calendar year.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for lumbosacral strain, and service connection for left shoulder impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tendonitis were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions that his current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine brace causes wear and tear to his clothing, which qualifies him for a clothing allowance in the amount of $100 per year.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of prostatitis and lumbar spine disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their relationship to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities of the back, right shoulder, right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Veteran's claim for VR&E benefits to pursue a medical career is remanded due to insufficient rationale in the previous decision and need for further evaluation by a vocational rehabilitation counselor.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected unspecified anxiety disorder. The issues of a compensable evaluation for the service-connected stab wound scar, service connection for a low back disability, and service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II are remanded.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that the evidence did not show forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine at 30 degrees or less, or favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine. The current 20 percent rating is upheld.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left and right shoulders, as well as a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine disability, were denied. The Board found no current diagnoses of degenerative arthritis in the left and right shoulders and insufficient evidence to establish service connection.