Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and the need for a VA examination. The issues of cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and right foot disability secondary to lumbar spine disability are being reviewed.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent throughout the appeal period.,Service connection for a back disability, including as due to service-connected bilateral hallux valgus and bilateral knee disabilities, is denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran’s current back disability and her service-connected bilateral hallux valgus or knee disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a cervical spine disability, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or chronic condition related to these disabilities.

The Veteran was granted TDIU from April 1, 2018 due to his service-connected adjustment disorder with depression and back condition preventing him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, and increased rating for degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome have all been denied.,Service connection was not granted because there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service. The Veteran's lay statements regarding herbicide exposure were found to be inconsistent with the places, types, and circumstances of his service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, including degenerative disc disease, is related to his active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error and insufficient rationale in the VA examiner's opinion regarding service connection for mechanical low back pain with lumbar myofascial trigger point.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for earlier effective date and increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disorder, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various conditions and an initial evaluation for a stressor-related disorder. The issues include heart disorders, bilateral hearing loss, back problems, laryngeal cancer, lymph node cancer, and a stressor-related disorder. Additional evidence is needed from VA and private sources.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on migraines, generalized anxiety disorder, and lumbar strain have been dismissed. Her fibromyalgia has been granted a TDIU due to her service-connected disabilities rendering her unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment.

The appeal of the issues related to migraines, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, thoracolumbar spine degenerative joint disease, and left second metacarpal fracture is dismissed as these conditions have been awarded service connection. The issue of service connection for a left shoulder condition is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the entire body and degenerative disc disease of the cervical and thoracic spine, finding that his conditions are less likely than not due to or aggravated by his active duty service.

The claim for service connection for a left knee disability has been reopened, but the appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence. The claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability is also remanded.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an updated VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for recurrent thoracolumbar strain, including its relationship to his in-service motor vehicle accident. The examiner is asked to provide opinions on whether the current back disorders are related to service.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's disabilities, including acne vulgaris, left knee disability, callosities of the feet, and left ear hearing loss. The back disability issue is also being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc and joint disease is granted as service connected. The neck injury claim is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's right ankle scar is rated at 0 percent, and a higher rating is denied.,PTSD remains rated at 70 percent, with no higher rating granted.,Prior to October 16, 2018, the lumbar spine disability was rated at 20 percent; as of that date, it is rated at 40 percent.,The Veteran's hypertension and erectile dysfunction are not rated higher than 20 percent.,A higher rating for a left eye disability is denied.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, right eye disability, chest disability, and headache disability remains remanded.,Service connection for cervical spine disability, right ankle disability, right knee disability from March 1, 2014 to September 15, 2015, left knee disability, and a temporary 100 percent rating based on surgical treatment for the right knee requiring convalescence are all remanded.,Effective dates prior to specific dates for service connection grants or increased ratings are also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and for TDIU, finding that there was no evidence linking his current disabilities to service. The Board also found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU as he had other service-connected disabilities rated at 70% combined.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a thoracolumbar spine disability has been withdrawn. Service connection for PTSD and anxiety disorder due to military sexual trauma is granted, but the rating for right knee iliotibial band disorder, right hip limitation of extension associated with right hip strain, limitation of right hip flexion, and right hip limitation of abduction, adduction, and external rotation remains remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20% prior to March 14, 2011 and denied thereafter. The right knee 'locking and popping' condition is also rated at 20%. The left knee instability conditions are each rated at 10%. No higher ratings are granted.