Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple issues has been granted, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Board also found that the Veteran's back disability is related to his in-service examination, and his right and left knee disabilities are secondary to his back disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as for updated medical records.

The Board has determined that an effective date earlier than August 27, 2013, for the award of service connection for a low back disability is not warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (low back, knees, hearing loss, and PTSD) preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding that the Veteran's current neck disability, including degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, is related to his active duty service. The claim for service connection must be denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased initial ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and right shoulder arthritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, or a shoulder disability.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to cause his nightmares and sleep disturbance.,Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was not diagnosed during service or for many years thereafter, and the evidence does not support a finding of service connection.,Crohn's disease was not diagnosed during service or for many years thereafter, and the evidence does not support a finding of service connection.,The Veteran's low back disability is found to be unrelated to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling new examinations and obtaining VA treatment records.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disorder and bilateral hearing loss were not incurred or aggravated by service, respectively. The claim for service connection for a back disorder was denied as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease resulting in current disability. For his bilateral hearing loss, the initial noncompensable rating was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA and private medical records, as well as service personnel records. The appellant's claims will be readjudicated based on the updated evidence.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate and whether there are any new or material pieces of evidence for his service connection claims. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The lumbar spine disability was rated as 20 percent disabling, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5243.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims will be adjudicated again based on this new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected traumatic degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is denied as there is no evidence that it meets or approximates the criteria for an increased disability rating.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic low back disorder in service or within one year after service, and concluded that the currently diagnosed lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is not causally connected to active service.

The VA has determined that the appellant's degenerative disc disease, L4-5 and L5-S1, warrants a rating of 40 percent since it causes significant functional impairment due to pain and weakness.

The Board has remanded the claim due to insufficient examination addressing whether the Veteran's peripheral neuropathy aggravates his back disability. The case is returned for further action.

The Veteran's lumbar fibromyositis, external hemorrhoids, and chronic maxillary sinusitis have been rated appropriately. The issues of service connection for neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities and for neuropathy and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities remain unresolved.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, with separate ratings for neurological impairment of the right and left lower extremities.