Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain with radiculopathy has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since June 15, 1994.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was granted service connection effective December 5, 2011. The claim for left big toe amputation compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is denied due to lack of evidence showing negligence or fault on the part of VA.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a low back disorder, supraventricular tachycardia, and Crohn's disease due to lack of medical evidence addressing continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's heart condition, vision loss, back conditions, lower extremity radiculopathy, cervical spinal stenosis, right hip condition, kidney failure, arthritis, fibromyalgia, shoulder pain, varicose veins, carpal tunnel syndrome, and restless leg syndrome are all related to service exposure to hazardous chemicals. The Veteran must be provided with a VA examination for each issue.,The Veteran's major depressive disorder, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, allergic rhinitis, and mild recurrent major depressive disorder, with moderate generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder are all related to service exposure to hazardous chemicals. The Veteran must be provided with a VA examination for each issue.

The Board has remanded two issues: a compensable rating for the right thumb disability and a rating in excess of 20 percent for traumatic arthritis of the lumbosacral spine. The case is sent back to the RO for initial review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 with multiple areas of spinal disc herniations was denied. The right knee strain and ankle disabilities were granted increased ratings, but the limitation of flexion in the right knee remains at a compensable level.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability of status post medical meniscectomy and chondromalacia, but denied service connection for a lower back disorder.

The Veteran's claims for compensable initial ratings for various service-connected disabilities have been denied. The Board has remanded several of the issues for further evaluation, including those related to arthritis and wrist conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination that complies with the requirements of Correia v. McDonald, 25 Vet. App. 158 (2016).

The Board has remanded both the service connection claim for a lumbar spine disorder and the TDIU claim due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The claims will be reconsidered with an addendum opinion from a clinician addressing continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to address questions raised in the Joint Motion for Remand and to afford the Veteran every benefit of the doubt.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent effective July 23, 2012.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the evidence did not establish a link between the current condition and service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar spine disability, sciatic nerve radiculopathy, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and left ankle disability due to insufficient medical evidence. The VA will provide additional examinations to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's initial claim for increased ratings for his back disability and radiculopathy of the lower extremities was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to May 30, 2015, but granted a 20 percent rating from May 30, 2015 to October 8, 2017 for his back disability and a 20 percent rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity from October 9, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, finding that it is etiologically related to her military service. However, service connection was denied for residuals of rubella/measles due to a lack of evidence of current disability.

The Board denied service connection for left knee, right knee, and thoracolumbar spine disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.,Specifically, the VA examiner found no direct link between the current diagnoses and service-connected shell fragment wounds.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection. The hearing loss claim is denied as there is no indication of a disability during service or after, and the low back condition claim requires further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and unverified periods of active duty. The appellant must provide additional evidence, including treatment records from her private doctors.

The claims to reopen service connection for degenerative changes and muscle spasms, right knee condition, and mental condition (claimed as parasomnia) are granted. The Veteran's conditions are related to his service-connected left knee disability.