Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for several conditions, including right arm and shoulder disabilities. The claim to reopen service connection for a right knee disability was denied as new and material evidence has not been received.

The Veteran's appeals regarding hypertension, migraine headaches, heart disability, and low back condition were dismissed as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is not etiologically related to his active duty service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to concerns about the adequacy of a VA examination and the need for an addendum opinion.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete medical records and need for new examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, including lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, is related to his military service.,The Board has also determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability, including cervical spine spondylosis, is related to his military service and/or his low back disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been denied.,The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to failure to substantially comply with prior remand directives.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability and arthritis of the right knee are etiologically linked to his service-connected foot condition (pes planus with arthritis). As a result, the claims for service connection have been granted.

The Board found that the Appellant did not have current bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues were also addressed but are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for thoracolumbar spine degenerative joint disease with spondylolisthesis, right knee arthritis, and left knee arthritis were denied. Service connection for cervical myelopathy was also not established as secondary to service-connected cervical spondylosis.

The Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 10 percent, and no higher. The VA examiner found that the Veteran has flexion to 70 degrees with painful motion on bending.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 20 percent prior to January 22, 2015 and at 40 percent thereafter. The Board has determined that the current ratings are appropriate for this period.

The Veteran's right knee, left knee, and lumbar spine disorders are not service-connected. The Board found the medical evidence insufficient to establish a link between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral disc herniation and associated radiculopathy are currently rated at 40 percent, effective November 29, 2016. His hypertension is rated at 10 percent. The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder strain.

The Board has ordered further development due to the inadequacy of an August 2017 opinion and potential outstanding treatment records. The Veteran's meralgia paresthetica is being evaluated for its relationship to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and/or service-connected lumbar radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not competent to manage his VA benefit payments.

The Veteran's low back strain with degenerative joint disease is rated at 40 percent since December 2, 2013. The Board also granted entitlement to TDIU based on the service-connected disabilities.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current lumbar spine disability and therefore, service connection for this condition cannot be granted.