Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's back disability is granted a 40% rating, and the postoperative residuals of anal fissure are also granted. Service connection for dental injury with bridge is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, specifically his posterior laminectomies and degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbosac spine. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disorder, finding no medical nexus between her current condition and her military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of his left hip, right hip, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, major depressive disorder (MDD), and TDIU. The VA will obtain outstanding records from the Louisville VA Medical Center and schedule a new examination to assess the severity of his lumbar spine condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for lumbar spine and right lower extremity radiculopathy are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate nexus opinions regarding direct service connection and secondary service connection for a back condition. Additional evidence is needed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for his degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee, exercise-induced compartment syndrome of the legs, allergic rhinitis, GERD, or migraines prior to and after May 5, 2015. The Board also found that remand was necessary for further development regarding service connection for insomnia.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability was reopened, as new evidence showed the condition may be related to service. Service connection is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was also reopened and granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for referral to the Director, Compensation Service, for an extraschedular determination as to whether he is entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities from March 30, 2007 to May 18, 2010.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities as due to a lumbar spine disorder. The claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder is remanded.

The claims for service connection of left shoulder, low back, and left knee disabilities have been denied.,Service connection for traumatic brain injury (TBI) has also been denied.,An effective date earlier than April 28, 2015 for the grant of service connection for depression is denied.

The claim for service connection of depression was granted in full. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for thoracolumbar degenerative joint disease, intervertebral disc syndrome is denied. The claims for initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for left and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar degenerative disc disease and depression are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA examination and the need for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's lumbar strain is related to his service-connected right and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 40 percent, but no higher. The claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for the back disability is denied.,An initial rating of 40 percent, but no higher, for right leg sciatica secondary to service-connected back disability prior to January 25, 2012, is granted. A rating of 20 percent, but no higher, from January 25, 2012, to May 22, 2016, is also granted.,A rating in excess of 20 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to service-connected back disability is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause his death from Parkinson's disease. The Board denied the claim as there was no evidence that any of his service-connected disabilities contributed to his death.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including generalized arthritis disorder, bilateral elbow disorders, bilateral hand disorders, a back disorder, hypertension, skin cancer, and head disorder. The effective dates for the grants of service connection were not earlier than September 18, 2013.,An initial compensable rating was denied for hearing loss and an increased rating for tinnitus was also denied.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease has been granted service connection and a rating of 30 percent.,Prior to December 29, 2006, the Veteran's left shoulder arthritis was rated at 30 percent. After that date, his left shoulder replacement surgery is rated at 50 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disability, and an acquired psychological disorder (including PTSD and depression) are all granted. The Veteran is also granted a compensable rating for his right ear hearing loss disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is secondary to his service-connected lumbosacral strain with spondylosis and degenerative disc disease.