Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. The back disability and toenail fungus are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine arthritis, lumbar spine arthritis, left knee arthritis, and right knee instability are all remanded for further evaluation due to the possibility of increased severity since his last VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss has been reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability has been reopened and granted.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar disc degeneration, finding that the Veteran's current condition had its onset in service and is related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar strain and memory loss, finding no evidence of chronic conditions related to active service.,Service records show treatment for back pain in the early 1980s but no current diagnosis. Memory issues were noted post-service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support a relationship between his current back condition and his military service.

The Board denied increased ratings for various conditions, including thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis, right and left knee strains, status/post septoplasty with deviated septum, prostate disorder, erectile dysfunction (ED), and gastrointestinal (GI) disorder. The effective dates for the grants of service connection were also denied.

The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the appeal for a higher rating has been denied.,Both lower extremity radiculopathies are currently rated at 20 percent, and the appeals for higher ratings have also been denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted. The Board has also remanded the issues of whether her low back pain, cervical spine condition, and right sciatic nerve damage are related to her active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain and left gluteal muscle strain were evaluated as 10 percent disabling prior to March 29, 2019. The disability was found not to meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's disability rating for lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome was restored to 20 percent effective February 28, 2017.

The Veteran's back disability, specifically degenerative disc disease and L4-5 and L5-S1 disc desiccation, has been rated at 40 percent since the entire period on appeal. The rating is based on forward flexion to 20 degrees during flare-ups.

The Veteran's TBI claim is denied as there is no current diagnosis and the evidence does not support a finding that it began during service.,Service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease is denied due to lack of in-service injury or disease, and no causal relationship to service has been established.,Left shoulder degenerative joint disease was also denied as there is no in-service injury or disease, and the Veteran's current condition does not appear related to service.,Lumbar spine degenerative disc disease was denied due to lack of an in-service injury or disease, and the evidence does not support a finding that it began during service.,Radiculopathy associated with lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is also denied as there is no direct service connection.

The Veteran is granted an earlier effective date of March 31, 2015 for the assignment of a 40 percent rating for lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss was denied. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left shoulder arthritis, right shoulder strain, and low back strain with IVDS were all granted. The claims for service connection of the left shoulder arthritis, right shoulder strain, and low back strain with IVDS are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to any event or injury during service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected conditions and his current right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cardiomyopathy, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, colonic diverticulitis, hemorrhoids, rectum condition, and stomach condition are all denied as they are not related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,The Veteran's service connection claims for sinus condition secondary to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune are remanded.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted an initial 20 percent rating prior to August 23, 2017. The case is remanded for further examination and consideration of the Veteran's cervical spine strain.