Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability and left hip strain and arthralgia, but has remanded both claims due to insufficient evidence. The low back disability is related to in-service injuries, while the left hip strain and arthralgia may be aggravated by the service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for right hip, right shoulder, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities. The decision found that the current conditions are not related to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds no basis for an increased rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected arm length discrepancy, nerve damage of the right forearm, spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine, and impingement of the sciatic nerve affecting the left and right lower extremities are being remanded due to inadequate examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to conflicting evidence, need for updated VA treatment records, and the requirement of a complete VA Form 21-8940 application.

The Board denied service connection for kyphoscoliosis (back disability) and dismissed the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Veteran's loss of bilateral lower extremities due to multiple sclerosis is rated at 100 percent, which meets the criteria for SMC under 38 C.F.R. § 1114(s).

The Veteran's appeal for a higher level of SMC for loss of use of bilateral hips was denied as he is already receiving the maximum rate of compensation authorized under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(p) for his loss of use of lower extremities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disability and an earlier effective date for PTSD. The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of a low back disability, and the Veteran did not file a claim or express intent to file a claim prior to October 15, 2015.

The Board denied service connection for left hip, left knee, and lumbar spine disabilities. The claims for right hip and right knee disabilities were also denied.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, neck condition, and right hip condition is denied.,Service connection for depressive disorder is dismissed due to a grant of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the nature and likely cause of any neck, bilateral knee, breathing, and back disabilities. The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded.

Service connection is granted for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, residuals of a right hand shock injury, left great toe injury residuals, and cold injury residuals of the right and left toes.,The effective date for service connection remains July 12, 2013.

The Veteran's low back disability is now rated at 60 percent effective November 11, 2004. The right lumbosacral radiculopathy remains rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disability, osteoarthritis of an unspecified joint, cataracts, and hypertension due to insufficient evidence on the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disability, including whether it is related to service or any pre-existing conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to the lack of recent VA examinations assessing the severity of her service-connected lower back disability and left foot disability. The Veteran is also seeking a higher rating for her left foot disability, asserting that she was unable to walk or do anything during severe cramping.

The appeals for various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the increased rating for lumbosacral strain, status post back surgery for degenerative disc disease. As a result, this issue is dismissed.

The Board denied all applications to reopen claims for service connection for various hip and back disabilities, finding that the new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has remanded several issues, including the right inguinal hernia scar rating and service connection for various disabilities. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed due to a lack of recent VA examinations and potential procedural errors.