Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is denied for an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis, left hand and finger disability, lumbar degenerative disc disease and arthritis, medial synovitis and medial plica syndrome of the left knee, anterior pain syndrome of the right knee, other stressor and trauma related disorder, psoriasis and dermatitis, obstructive sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), diarrhea, and lung condition. The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis, is secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The decision grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome and unspecified anxiety disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease and left upper extremity radiculopathy are granted service connection. The bilateral shoulder disability, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, and bilateral knee osteoarthritis are denied. Service connection for the left trigeminal neuralgia is granted with a 10 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disability and a headache disorder as aggravated by service-connected tinnitus due to inadequate reasoning in previous decisions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, chronic neck condition, chronic back condition, right hip condition, right foot condition, and left foot condition. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective May 27, 2015 due to his service-connected disabilities resulting in severe physical limitations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a new VA peripheral nerves examination to address the etiology and severity of his claimed cervical radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he was employed in various positions such as taxi driver, custodian, and video production. His back disability limited his ability to work but he maintained employment until November 2017 when he became disabled due to diabetes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lower/middle back disorder and left knee disorder due to potential service connection issues. The Veteran is also being asked to provide updated treatment records.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations of record are inadequate and do not comply with prior remand directives. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for low back strain, right knee degenerative joint disease, and left knee degenerative joint disease are being remanded to obtain new examinations.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for low back disability due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, lichen simplex chronicus and prurigo nodularis associated with hepatitis C, mild spondylosis of the lumbar spine, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral) associated with mild spondylosis of the lumbar spine due to new evidence received since the last decision.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine arthritis, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by an in-service injury and that the condition began during active service.

The Board has remanded this claim due to an inadequate April 2017 VA examination, which did not assess the degree of additional range of motion lost due to pain on use or during flare-ups. A new examination is needed.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, claimed as secondary to service-connected chronic right meralgia paresthetica.,The Board also denied service connection for a back disability, including as secondary to service-connected chronic right meralgia paresthetica and a claimed right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back, right knee, left knee, sinus, and sleep apnea conditions due to insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran's statements about his symptoms are considered credible.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, including those from Community Care Consult, Pathways Acupuncture, The Core Institute, and fee outpatient records. Additional examinations are needed to assess the full range of motion for the Veteran's left knee and thoracolumbar spine.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral wrist disabilities, low back condition, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for mild patellofemoral degenerative joint disease of the right knee. The Veteran's current ratings are based on symptomatic residuals from semilunar cartilage removal performed during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow any substantially gainful employment since March 1, 2016.