Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various disabilities, including left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, right hand disability, cervical spine disability, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, carpal tunnel syndrome, and right wrist disability. The Veteran is also required to provide additional non-VA treatment records and Worker’s Compensation claim records.

The RO reduced the ratings for several service-connected conditions, but found that the reductions were not supported by evidence of actual improvement. The case is remanded to determine if there has been an actual change in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary life conditions.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issue of a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, and he is now entitled to a 10 percent rating for his tinnitus. The other conditions are also recognized as service-connected.

The previously-denied claims for lower back disability and bilateral eye disorder are reopened, but the other claims remain pending.,The Veteran's current eye disorder is related to her in-service exposure to blowing sand and use of Visine. A VA examination is needed to determine if it is due to Persian Gulf War service.,VA will obtain a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran has bilateral knee disabilities, including a history of an acute injury during service.,A VA examination is required to assess whether the Veteran's current joint pain is related to her Persian Gulf War service. A medical opinion should be obtained regarding this issue.,The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if she has any objective manifestations of cold injuries from service, and a medical opinion should be provided on this matter.,A VA examination is needed to assess whether the Veteran has a current gynecological disorder related to her in-service treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. A medical opinion should be obtained regarding this issue.,The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if she currently suffers from chronic headaches that are related to service, including an in-service head injury.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cervical radiculopathy and lumbar radiculopathy, as well as increased evaluations for the Veteran's lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities. The left ankle disability claim is also being remanded.

The Board has revised the effective date for the lumbar spine disability rating claim from November 1997 to March 1981, and granted a 60 percent rating with an earlier effective date of March 9, 2002.

The Veteran's myositis of the lumbar spine is rated at 40 percent, and his adjustment disorder prior to November 28, 2017, and in excess of 70 percent thereafter are both denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has not found new evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being referred to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration on an extraschedular basis due to his service-connected back disability preventing him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, were denied service connection. The Board found that the conditions did not manifest to a compensable degree in service or within the applicable presumptive period.,There is no evidence of arthritis in the knees during service, and continuity of symptomatology was not established.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for initial increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and bilateral knee disability due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran is required to provide additional evidence or authorization, and a new VA examination will be scheduled.

The Board denied service connection for cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities as there is no competent evidence linking the current conditions to service, including a lack of continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine were diagnosed during service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claims for increased ratings for left hand arthritis, right hand arthritis, and bilateral wrist conditions are dismissed as the Veteran withdrew them during his hearing. The claims for increased rating for status post left knee replacement and neck condition are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal regarding an increased rating for migraine headaches is dismissed. The claim of service connection for a back disorder was denied due to lack of new and material evidence, while the neck disorder issue is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine, left hip, and left knee disabilities claimed as secondary to the service-connected right knee disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or the service-connected condition.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for a right knee disability is granted. The claims for increased rating of left knee disability, service connection for right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and kidney disease are all remanded.

The Veteran's appeal of his right ear hearing loss disability rating is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for a low back disability.