Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions from previous VA examinations and the need for updated treatment records. The Veteran's low back disability is being reviewed again with a new examination to determine if it is related to his service, or if it was aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an examination and medical opinion regarding his claimed back disorder.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for Hepatitis C and a rash on his back and groin, but denied service connection for other conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to service. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted while others were not.

The Veteran's service connection for left ear hearing loss disability is granted. The rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine remains at 40 percent, but a higher rating is granted for left lower extremity neurological impairment.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and examination, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The service connection issue will be reconsidered after resolving the eligibility for pension purposes.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The Veteran's increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, right ankle osteoarthritis and Achilles tendonitis, left ankle osteoarthritis, and pseudofolliculitis barbae are also granted.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disability and denied entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The case is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's PTSD, including whether his substance abuse is related to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar strain and left knee DJD, as well as his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disability. Additional evidence is needed from VA treatment records, and a new examination is required.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional examinations, consideration of new evidence, and clarification regarding when his service-connected disabilities worsened.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back disability, including disability of the thoracolumbar spine. The case is being sent back for further examination and consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and bilateral hip strain due to inadequate examinations in 2013, 2015, and 2018. The Veteran must be provided with updated VA examinations to address all relevant Diagnostic Codes.

The Board has granted service connection for renal cell carcinoma and lytic lesions of the cervical spine, left hip, lumbar spine, right shoulder, and skull as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected renal cell carcinoma.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease with arthritic changes prior to December 8, 2016 is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease with arthritic changes subsequent to December 8, 2016 is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is denied.

The Veteran's back disability is granted as service-connected. The left knee and psychiatric disabilities are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy secondary to it, finding that there is a causal relationship between his in-service duties and his current conditions.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral shin splints, bilateral heel spurs, and initial compensable ratings for lumbar spine strain, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The claim for tinnitus was granted, but the claim for bilateral hearing loss and TBI were denied.

The Board has restored service connection for right foot strain and granted service connection for right ankle peroneus brevis and longus tenosynovitis (sinus tarsi syndrome), as well as service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, all found to be related to service.

The Veteran's left shoulder and low back disabilities have been rated, but the current ratings are less than what he claims. The Board has ordered a new VA examination to assess the severity of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent for right and left foot pes planus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and he is granted a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.