Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the appeals of service connection for allergic rhinitis, shingles, and tension headaches. The claims for left foot arthritis, chest pain (costochondritis), cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, left knee disability, left ankle disability, and left heel spur are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a lumbar spine condition and associated radiculopathy due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran will need to undergo further examination to determine if his conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including recurrent lumbar spine disorder, left hip disorder, right knee disorder, psychiatric disorder to include a not otherwise specified depressive disorder, and recurrent sleep disorder have been denied. The issues related to these conditions are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is rated at a 20 percent effective January 17, 2008 and at a 40 percent effective August 21, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for consideration of an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection and increased rating for his lumbar spine disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his lumbar spine condition and left knee condition due to outdated VA examinations. The Veteran will need new VA examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine condition, left ankle condition, bilateral pes planus, and COPD. The Veteran's right foot hallux valgus was granted a compensable rating of 10%.

The Board has granted a 20% disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy. The claim is being remanded to obtain additional records and determine if the Veteran qualifies for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and right ankle sprain have been rated, but the appeals for increased ratings are denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the RO needs to refer the case to the VA Director of Compensation and Pension Service for consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine and right hip disorders, finding no evidence of chronic disability in service or within one year thereafter. The Veteran's current conditions are not presumed to have been incurred due to military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's applications to reopen his claims for service connection for low back disorder, right ankle instability, and sleep apnea. The claims are remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and for further medical examinations.

The Veteran's lumbar L2-L3 arthritis was initially granted an initial rating of 20 percent effective October 23, 2012. The Board found that the evidence supported a finding that his symptoms warranted this rating for the period prior to December 3, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spondyloarthropathy/facet arthropathy is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and examination reports.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his throat disorder, right foot injury residuals, skin disorders of the feet, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral knee disabilities.,Specifically, a new examination is needed to determine if the Veteran has any current residuals from his in-service right tonsil abscess and lymphadenopathy. The examiner should also provide an opinion on whether his current right ankle disability had its onset during service or is otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has granted service connection for joint pain, night sweats, hair loss, weight changes, low back, and hysterectomy. The Veteran also received a TDIU determination.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current diagnoses of right knee meniscal tear and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease are related to his service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his left knee and low back disabilities have been denied. The left knee disability is rated 30 percent prior to January 17, 2013 and in excess of 30 percent from March 1, 2014. The left knee subluxation claim has not met the criteria for a higher rating. The low back disability remains at 20 percent.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is not considered to be related to his active service, including as due to Agent Orange exposure.