Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, but denied service connection for a low back disability.

The Veteran's claims for right hip, back, and right knee disabilities have been reopened due to new evidence. However, the issues of service connection for these conditions are still pending as they require further examination and review.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's low back disability and his service-connected cervical spine strain.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including low back disability, left knee disability, partial complex seizures, chronic joint pain, epiploic appendagitis, erectile dysfunction, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, hypervascular lesions of the liver, infertility, and prediabetes. The Veteran's claims are pending in appellate status.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for low back disability, right knee disability, and rashes of the shoulder. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed again due to new evidence or clarification.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40% since January 19, 2016. The issues of service connection for right jaw condition, right ankle condition, left piriformis syndrome, and cervical spine condition are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy of the lower extremities was denied. The rating for the lumbar spine disability remains at 40 percent, while the ratings for the right and left lower extremity radiculopathies were all denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right acromioclavicular joint degenerative changes, lumbar spine degenerative changes, and cervical spine degenerative changes with right upper extremity radiculopathy as there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and service.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeals for the claims of service connection for an eye disability, bladder disability, loss of sense of smell, and loss of sense of taste. The Board dismissed these issues as a result.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including joint disorder, shin splints, low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, erectile dysfunction, skin disorder, and genital herpes. The reasons given were that there was no in-service event or injury leading to these disorders.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a low back disability and granted service connection due to credible lay statements and medical evidence supporting a nexus between in-service injury and current condition.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable and higher ratings for his lumbar spine disability, as well as for a cervical spine disability, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of tremors and has denied service connection for this condition. The issues of service connection for cervical spine stenosis, cervical radiculopathy of the bilateral upper extremities, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than depressive disorder (including PTSD and Adjustment Disorder), degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with bilateral radiculopathy, a disability rating in excess of 20 percent prior to April 28, 2010, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar radiculopathy of the left leg, a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar radiculopathy of the right leg, and an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for depressive disorder are all remanded due to incomplete or unclear evidence.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his service, but other claims for service connection are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and need for additional evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of jaw dislocation and back disorder, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a right hip disability and granted a 30 percent rating for allergic rhinitis with hypertrophic turbinates. The claims for service connection for left hip disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression), osteoarthritis and limitation of flexion of the right knee, osteoarthritis and limitation of motion of the left knee, and intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left knee meniscus surgery, right knee meniscus surgery, and low back disability due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including hepatitis C and its secondary effects. The rating for hemorrhoids was also denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for bilateral hip disability, shoulder and elbow disabilities, low back disability, neck disability with upper right extremity neuropathy, spine disability with joint degeneration, hearing loss, erectile dysfunction, staph infection, carpal tunnel syndrome, and sleep apnea. The remand also includes a request to obtain Social Security Administration records and an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected.,Tinnitus has been denied for an earlier effective date prior to June 25, 2012, and a rating in excess of 10 percent remains denied.,Service connection for bilateral lower extremity disability (including arthritis), bilateral shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, and lower back disability is remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation.