Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine. The neck disability and headaches claims are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is rated at 20% prior to December 13, 2017 and at 40% thereafter. A separate 10% rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy from December 13, 2017 and a 20% rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy from October 10, 2012 are granted. Special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional opinions regarding his low back condition, left shoulder injury, neck condition, and dizziness or balance issues.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and adjudication due to inadequate examination findings regarding the Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease involving L4-L5.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service. The in-service back pain was considered self-limiting and did not progress into degenerative arthritis.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracolumbar arthritis, left knee arthritis, and right knee arthritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU rating are remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as potential need for new examinations.

The Board has dismissed all the issues related to service connection and rating for hypertension, lumbar spine disorder, PTSD, and TDIU due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and denied entitlement to increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, low back disorder, and left knee replacement residuals. The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted.

The Veteran's hypertension and right breast mass were not incurred in or related to her military service.,Her right ovarian cyst status post laparoscopy was also not incurred in or related to her military service.

The Board denied a rating higher than 40 percent for the Veteran's low back disability on an extraschedular basis, finding that the available schedular ratings adequately described her disability picture.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims for chronic lumbar strain, right ear hearing loss disability, colon polyps including colon cancer, and carpel tunnel of the right hand are being remanded due to additional medical evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for a low back disability due to insufficient evidence and need for an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board denied reopening claims for hearing loss of the right ear and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine due to lack of new and material evidence, as well as a negative nexus opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, to include arthritis, to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of increased ratings for residuals of stress fractures of the left and right tibia, service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities, and TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and associated bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to incomplete development of records, including VA treatment records and SSA records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, right hip and right knee disabilities as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability due to conflicting medical opinions. The VA will obtain additional records and schedule the Veteran for examinations to determine if there is a link between his service-connected right ankle disability and his current right knee, hip or back conditions.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, finding that there was no in-service injury or event leading to these conditions. The claim for bronchitis is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its relationship to service-connected pneumonia.

The Board has remanded the claims for higher ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, DDD of the cervical spine with spasms, and DDD of the lumbosacral spine due to a lack of detailed range of motion findings and functional loss.