Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has decided that the Veteran's cervical and thoracic spine disabilities need further evaluation due to a lack of recent VA treatment records and an outdated examination.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the Veteran's allegation of increased severity since previous examinations and for issues related to a compensable rating for scalp lacerations and service connection for a left shoulder disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his degenerative disk disease of the lumbar spine and cervical spine have been denied. The evidence does not support a higher rating in either case.,The Veteran has reported constant back pain, but the medical records do not show ankylosis or incapacitating episodes that would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the impact of her service-connected conditions on her clothing. The AOJ must gather more information and provide a certification as to whether her use of braces causes wear and tear on her clothes.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right wrist disorder, back disorder, right ankle disorder, and allergic skin condition due to outstanding service treatment records that may corroborate the Veteran's reports.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence or procedural issues. The hearing loss and dermatitis cases are still under review, as is the right knee disorder, asbestosis, sleep apnea, and lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals for various disability ratings and service connection claims, including those related to right ear hearing loss, a right ring-finger disability, low back disability, right knee disability, right foot disability, left foot disability, and acute retinal necrosis of the left eye.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including a new VA examination for the kidney disorder and additional examinations for other service-connected conditions. The Veteran's claims of increased ratings are also being considered.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete service treatment records, specifically those from Fort Gordon where he was injured in October 1988.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right knee condition, hypertension, and heart condition (coronary artery disease) as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before a decision on the merits may be made regarding the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected lumbosacral spondylolisthesis with sciatic nerve involvement and IVDS, and service-connected sciatica. The Veteran was last provided a VA examination relating to his conditions in July 2015, over three years ago. A new VA examination is required so that the current nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities may be determined.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased evaluations for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and bronchitis, as the Veteran withdrew his appeal. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to new evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for thoracic strain, degenerative disc disease of cervical spine, left ankle strain, and left knee patellar femoral pain syndrome as there is no evidence to support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's spouse is granted an effective date of August 29, 2006 for additional VA compensation benefits due to the Veteran being rated at a 30% or greater disability rate.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's representative indicating withdrawal of all current appeals.

The Veteran's hypertension claim was denied, and the cervical spine disorder and lumbar spine disorder claims were granted as secondary to his service-connected epilepsy disability.,Service connection for a heart disorder is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of left hip condition, lumbar spine disability, or right hip condition. The issues of service connection for lumbar spine and right hip disabilities are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's ddd of the lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent from May 31, 2006, forward. Service connection for bowel dysfunction and bladder dysfunction secondary to ddd of the lumbar spine is denied. The Veteran is granted a TDIU from May 31, 2006, forward.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and dismissed his appeal regarding his right knee disability.