Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

Service connection for adjustment disorder with depression is granted. An evaluation in excess of 20 percent prior to March 18, 2020, for a lumbar spine disability is denied.,An evaluation in excess of 40 percent beginning March 18, 2020, for a lumbar spine disability is denied. Separate evaluations for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right feet are granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee and low back conditions due to insufficient clinical evidence supporting opinions on causation or aggravation.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral foot disability and prostate cancer. The back disability and bilateral hearing loss claims are remanded due to incomplete records and need additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's low back disability was granted an initial rating of 10 percent prior to September 23, 2002 and a 20 percent rating thereafter. The right lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to the service-connected low back disability was also granted a 20 percent rating from September 23, 2002 to January 11, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine and a right shoulder strain with internal derangement were denied as there was no evidence to support higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have service-connected residuals of ruptured ear drum, neuropathy of the upper extremities, or a lumbar spine disorder. The claims for these conditions are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine stenosis, sleep apnea, bilateral lumbar radiculopathy (claimed as bilateral lower extremity numbness), acquired psychiatric disorder, and headaches, all secondary to his service-connected left and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's death was caused by a myocardial infarction, which the Board finds is at least as likely as not due to his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities.,The Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU from May 2, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's low back disability is related to his service-connected left leg disabilities. The examiner needs to provide a more detailed and reasoned opinion on this issue.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection of right foot disorder, left foot disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, and bilateral hip disorder need further development due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for right knee, left knee, and lumbar spine disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing the conditions were incurred in or related to service.,Service records did not document any injuries or diseases involving the Veteran's knees or lower back during his active duty. The Veteran reported he did not seek treatment at the time because he needed to continue working on an aircraft carrier.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, neck disorder, and back disorder as secondary to his service-connected endolymphatic hydrops due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his service-connected condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues related to cervical spine, lumbar spine, ulnar nerve compression, lateral femoral cutaneous nerve impairment of the left lower extremity, and right knee disabilities. The appeal for service connection for a right ankle disorder was also withdrawn.

The Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection are being reopened, and the cases of his respiratory disability, back disability, and tingling of feet due to frostbite are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for TDIU on an extra-schedular basis, effective December 2, 2013. The decision is based on the combined effects of his service-connected disabilities rendering him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back condition, tinnitus (ringing ear), left hand condition, and right hand condition due to a lack of VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability, finding no evidence to support that his current condition was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's lumbar strain disability is being remanded for further examination and rating. Other service connection claims are also being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions. The issues include sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, lumbar spine disability, bilateral hip disability, hypertension, loss of use of both hands, and left ankle tibial nerve neuritis.