Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.,The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities are both currently rated at 20 percent. The Board finds that they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on their symptoms.

The Board has remanded several claims related to the Veteran's hip and knee disabilities, as well as his lumbar strain. The main issues are for a higher rating in excess of 20 percent for various hip and knee conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine if his conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder NOS, has been granted. Service connection is also granted for thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a right-hand contusion, residuals of a varicocelectomy, chronic lumbar myofascial strain, and bilateral hearing loss as the evidence did not support current diagnoses or a link to military service.

The Board denied service connection for chronic bronchitis, left ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and cervical spine disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's right wrist sprain is denied as there is no current diagnosis and the previous injury resolved.,The Veteran's upper back disability is denied due to lack of a current condition and insufficient evidence linking it to service.,The Veteran's right ankle sprain is denied because her current condition does not align with in-service complaints or findings.,The Veteran's sinusitis is denied as there was no chronicity during service, and the current diagnosis is resolved.,The Veteran's abdominal pain (dysmenorrhea) is denied due to lack of evidence connecting it to service.,The Veteran's dry skin condition is denied because her current diagnosis does not align with in-service complaints.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations of his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for low back disability and TMJ, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The claim for service connection for a low back injury (claimed as degenerative disc disease) is reopened and remanded. The Veteran's current low back injury may be related to his in-service injury, but further examination is needed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting opinions in a previous VA examination regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral knee condition is secondary to his service-connected back and hip conditions. The examiner needs to provide a more comprehensive opinion addressing both causation and aggravation.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection of a right lower leg disability, but the issues related to his lumbosacral strain, headache disability, right patellar enthesophyte (right knee condition), and increased rating for left knee chondromalacia remain remanded for further development.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a back condition, which may be supported by recent medical literature. The Board finds this matter requires further examination and review.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities require additional VA examinations and records to determine their current severity, and therefore remanded these issues for further action.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disorder, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, and PTSD. The claims are now remanded for further development including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of service connection for various disabilities, including a right wrist disability, back disability, right leg disability, left foot disability, and right foot disability (including a right big toe disability). The Veteran will be provided with new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, a skin disorder (claimed as dermatitis), an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression), residuals of pneumonia, and a back disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or post-service treatment records.

The Veteran's claim to reopen a service connection for low back condition is granted. The issues of service connection for GERD, RLS, and sleep apnea are remanded. The issue of rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, onychomycosis, and hypertension is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have made it impossible for him to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment since December 21, 2013.

The Veteran's right wrist tendonitis is rated at 10 percent, and his degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine remains at a 10 percent rating. No higher ratings are granted.