Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's cervical spine, right elbow, left shoulder, right shoulder, left hip, right hip, left knee, and right knee disabilities are all granted as service connected.,The Veteran's tinnitus is also granted as service connected.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing documents and a need to rebuild his claims file. The issues include lumbar, thoracic, cervical, right knee, erectile dysfunction, headaches (claimed as cephalgia), left hand disability, right hand disability, paresthesia of upper extremities, sciatic pain in lower extremities, and an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's tinnitus and left shoulder disabilities have not been service-connected.,Service connection for the spine, knee, hip, and depression conditions has also not been established. The effective dates of these determinations are being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back condition. Further development is needed, including obtaining medical records from a previous surgery and providing an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's RLE radiculopathy is now rated at 20 percent effective from February 15, 2018. Other conditions remain unchanged.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease. The examiner is instructed to review all available records and provide an opinion on whether the condition was incurred in or because of active service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is granted as service connected. The lumbar spine disorder claim is remanded for further examination and evaluation. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has found that the reduction of the Veteran's disability rating for his service-connected back disability from 40 percent to 20 percent was improper and restored the original rating. The claims for increased ratings related to the Veteran’s service-connected back disability, dysthymic disorder, right leg neuralgia, left leg neuralgia, and TDIU are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's discharge from active duty was not due to a service-connected disability, so he is only eligible for Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits at the 60 percent rate.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a stomach disorder has been reopened and granted. Tinnitus is found to have had its onset in service. The reduction of the rating for prostate cancer residuals from 100% to 10% was improper, and the 60% rating for coronary artery disease is restored.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back disorder, neck disorder, right knee disorder, and stomach cancer due to additional pertinent service records being requested from Camp Pendleton.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative and he is satisfied with the last decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip sprain, right hip sprain, and lumbar degenerative disc disease have been granted. The Board found that the conditions were present during a presumptive period of service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development regarding service connection claims. The Board will consider all evidence and provide a Supplemental Statement of the Case if necessary.

The claim of service connection for a right shoulder disability has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further examination and rating considerations.

The claim for service connection of a left knee disorder is reopened due to new evidence received after the November 2011 denial. The back disorder and bilateral hearing loss issues are remanded as VA examinations are needed.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of L5-S1 with osteoarthritis of the thoracic spine is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The reduction of the rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes from 20 to 10 percent, effective May 9, 2016, was not proper; the 20 percent rating is restored. The increased rating in excess of 20 percent for a low back disability is remanded.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's lower back, right knee, skin condition on the left foot, and headache conditions. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has granted service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his in-service motor vehicle accident.