Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded both issues due to the need for additional medical examination and development of evidence.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed low back, left hip, right hip, and right knee disabilities as well as his depression, all of which are alleged to be secondary to a nonservice-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and information.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome and right lower extremity intervertebral disc syndrome are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between his current back condition and his military service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and depressive disorder NOS are found to be secondary to his service-connected disabilities, specifically his knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted. The claim for thoracolumbar spine disorder is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent prior to July 22, 2015. The Board has granted a maximum schedular rating for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is related to his active duty service as a pilot, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraines, low back disability, and other conditions, are sufficient to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and right hand disability secondary to a service-connected right wrist ganglion cyst. The Veteran's current conditions are not considered service connected.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability, sleep apnea, and major depressive disorder due to incomplete records from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and inconsistent reports within the record regarding these conditions. The VA will need to obtain SSA records and schedule the Veteran for examinations to address inconsistencies in his diagnoses.

The Board has restored a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected herniated L5-S1 lumbar disc, status post discectomy and anterior spinal fusion with plate and two screws from January 1, 2010 through February 19, 2017. The evidence did not show sustained improvement in the disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and a right knee disorder, finding that there is no evidence showing these conditions are related to her military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for gouty arthritis of the left ankle, osteoarthritis of the left knee, and mild anterior wedging of L1 with disc space narrowing of the lumbar spine at L1-L4 were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, increased ratings for his thoracolumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities, and a TDIU effective from December 9, 2010. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the Veteran’s current sleep apnea to his military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine strain is currently rated at 10 percent, and the claim for an increased rating has been denied.

The Veteran's degenerative changes of the cervical and thoracolumbar spine were found to have manifested within one year of her separation from service, meeting the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for his low back disability was denied, and he is now rated at a 10 percent disability rating. The decision also granted separate ratings of 20 percent for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and 10 percent for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a cervical spine disability, effective date for tinnitus and thoracolumbar spine strain awards, and increased rating for bilateral hearing loss.