Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a left knee disability, low back disability, and SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity sciatica are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded. The Board notes that he also wishes to withdraw his appeal regarding left lower extremity sciatica, which had never been appealed.,The Veteran's claims for service connection of erectile dysfunction and migraine headaches are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.,The Veteran's claim for a separate rating for bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, bilateral hip disability, and bilateral knee disability due to insufficient evidence. The claims will be reviewed with a VA examination.

The Veteran's left ankle disorder, low back disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), right knee disorder, skin cancer, upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, and gastritis are all granted service connection. The rating for the right ankle fracture residuals is 20%.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 20% disability rating for lumbosacral strain is denied as there was no legally cognizable claim or intent to file a claim within the one-year period prior to February 16, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected Achilles tendonitis, left foot is granted a 10% rating. Service connection for degenerative joint disease and L5-S1 spondylolisthesis of the lumbosacral spine is also granted.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, right knee disability, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative changes. The rating for left knee patellofemoral syndrome is increased to 20 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible testimony regarding in-service noise exposure and persistent symptoms of back pain, but does not meet the criteria for VA compensation purposes due to his current level of hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the inadequacy of previous examinations. A new examination is needed to assess the severity of his back disability, including neurological symptoms.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disorder due to new evidence submitted since the last denial. The case is now remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and verifying dates of service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for lumbosacral strain, cervical spine strain, bilateral ankle disability, and tinnitus due to the absence of VA treatment records from 2001 to the present. These records are needed to make a determination on the merits.

Service connection is granted for arthritis and DDD of the lumbar spine, but service connection for CTS is remanded. A rating in excess of 10 percent for pain related to the scar, residual removal of cyst, is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbosacral joint disease, left knee condition, and right knee condition. The case is being remanded to provide the Veteran with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his bilateral knee conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for left knee disability and service connection for lumbar spine disability due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will need to undergo new VA examinations.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was granted at a 40 percent rating effective from June 2, 2012. The current 20 percent rating remains unchanged.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to service-connected hip or knee disabilities, as well as radiation treatment.

The Veteran's eye disability claim is denied as there is no diagnosed condition related to service.,The Veteran's back, feet, and face skin conditions are remanded for further examination and opinion regarding their etiology.,The Veteran's sleep apnea claim is remanded for a medical opinion on its etiology.,The Veteran's cellulitis of the left thigh claim is remanded for clarification of whether it constitutes a current disability or if it is only pain.,The Veteran's thyroid disorder claim is remanded to determine when the condition manifested and whether service aggravated it.,The Veteran's PTSD claim is remanded for further medical opinion on its etiology.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected disabilities have been remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation. The current ratings remain at 40 percent.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted an increased evaluation of 20 percent from March 21, 2011, and 40 percent beginning June 9, 2016. The right shoulder disability is granted a 30 percent initial evaluation starting June 9, 2016. TDIU is granted due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluding his ability to work. The issue of extraschedular evaluation for migraines is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability was denied in October 2008. New and material evidence has been received, reopening the claim.