Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability has been reopened and granted.,The claim of entitlement to service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities as secondary to a low back disability, and patellofemoral pain syndrome of both knees. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete records, including missing STRs from his 1976 period of active service. The VA will need to obtain these records and provide an addendum regarding the etiology of the Veteran’s current bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on several service-connected conditions has been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board has denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for the right shoulder disability and has remanded the service connection claim for a lumbar spine disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current lumbosacral strain is related to his military service. Additional records and an opinion are needed.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided was inadequate and requires a new one to address the etiology of the Veteran's back disability, including whether it is at least as likely as not caused by service-connected right knee disorder.

The Veteran's claims for neck, back, and right shoulder disorders have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims.,Service connection for bilateral hip disorders was also denied in a July 2015 rating decision.

The appeal to reopen service connection for PTSD was granted, along with other claims related to various disabilities. The effective date remains pending as it is not specified in the decision.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted, and his lumbar spine disability rating is remanded for further examination. Service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine condition is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal includes claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral spine strain and adjustment disorder with anxiety. These issues are being remanded due to a lack of recent medical examinations.

The Veteran's low back DDD was granted a rating of 40 percent, but no higher, prior to March 3, 2009. From March 3, 2009 to November 16, 2011, the Veteran received a 40 percent rating for his low back DDD. Since July 17, 2015, he was denied any higher ratings. The left knee patellofemoral arthritis and right knee patellofemoral arthritis were granted separate ratings based on their specific manifestations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a back disability due to lack of in-service incurrence or evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a bilateral foot disability. The issues on appeal include service connection for bilateral hip osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis with degenerative disc disease and facet arthropathy, radiculopathy, and a bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral degenerative joint disease with scoliosis and radiculopathy of the bilateral sciatic nerves.,Effective dates earlier than October 3, 2013, are granted for the Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral degenerative joint disease with scoliosis and IVDS, radiculopathy of the left sciatic nerve, and radiculopathy of the right sciatic nerve.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back pain and a lung condition were denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, right lower extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity neuropathy, and obstructive sleep apnea was also denied as there is no evidence showing they are related to service.,The Veteran's lung condition (asthma) may be connected to cold exposure during a trip to Alaska in 1971. However, the VA examiner found that his current asthma did not stem from this incident and was more likely due to other factors.

The appeal has been expanded to include all back disorders. The Veteran underwent a VA examination in May 2012, but the accompanying opinion is inadequate and requires further development.

The Board denied service connection for thoracolumbar spine disability due to lack of evidence showing it was incurred or aggravated during active duty, and the absence of a nexus between any in-service injury and current condition.,The Board also denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for hemorrhagic cerebral infarction and residuals because there is no evidence that VA's care caused or significantly contributed to the Veteran’s disability.