Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's claims are otherwise denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the issues of service connection for lumbar spine disability and related radiculopathy are remanded.

The Veteran's mechanical low back pain with degenerative joint disease is granted an increased rating of 40 percent, but no higher. The claim for hepatitis C and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and low back disability, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of various knee, neck, and nerve conditions due to his withdrawal of those claims prior to the issuance of a final decision.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, but no higher. Separate ratings for neurological abnormalities associated with the lumbar spine disability are granted. The Veteran also receives a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been rated at 10%, 20%, and 40% respectively, with the highest rating of 40% granted effective September 23, 2019.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection. The cervical spine, lumbar spine, respiratory (bronchitis), sinus, and bilateral hearing loss disabilities are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions. The claims are related to in-service noise exposure, burning diesel fuel, gas chamber training, cold weather exposure, and handling heavy equipment.

The appeal of the issue of entitlement to an effective date earlier than June 27, 2011 for service connection for lumbar strain with DDD is denied.,Entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for residuals of left inguinal herniorrhaphy is denied.,The appeal of the issue of entitlement to anemia (claimed as blood deficiency) is denied.,The appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for PTSD is denied.,Entitlement to direct service connection for an acquired mental disorder other than PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and TDIU is being remanded due to incomplete development. The VA needs to obtain medical records from the California Department of Corrections and schedule an examination or provide an advisory opinion if necessary.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations and service connection have been remanded by the Board.,No specific effective date has been provided as the issues are currently being reviewed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to inadequate examinations, worsening symptoms since previous evaluations, and inextricably intertwined issues.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and service connection for various conditions have been dismissed.,Service connection has been granted for left knee arthritis, but not for other claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for migraines and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for a low back disability due to insufficient development and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, lumbar radiculopathy, and left ankle arthritis due to in-service parachute jumps as a paratrooper.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy were denied as the evidence did not show that he met the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back condition and bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to inadequate examination reports in prior decisions. The AOJ must obtain all outstanding electronic medical records, including VistA Imaging, and provide an adequate VA examination to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's diabetic retinopathy is now rated at 40% effective May 13, 2018.,Service connection for the Veteran’s diabetic retinopathy was granted prior to May 18, 2017.,The Veteran's low back disability remains at a 20% rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for an updated examination. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again with consideration of his continuous back pain since service.