Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, evaluations for his bilateral knee disabilities, and TDIU prior to February 6, 2017. The claims are being returned for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right ear hearing loss is dismissed.,Service connection for PTSD with anxiety is denied. The Board notes that the evidence does not establish a current diagnosis of PTSD and finds no causal relationship between service and the diagnosed generalized anxiety disorder.,The claims for bilateral foot disability, lumbar spine disability, and lumbar radiculopathy are remanded due to new evidence received in 2023 and potential exposure to toxic chemicals during service.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability is remanded. The Veteran's claim for lumbar radiculopathy remains pending.,The claims for bilateral foot disability, lumbar spine disability, and asthma are remanded due to the need for a TERA memorandum and ILER report.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, the maximum rating available under VA guidelines. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left shoulder disability, low back disability, and bilateral knee disability due to the Veteran's failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was previously rated at 20 percent prior to December 20, 2019. The Board has remanded the case for further development and proceedings.

The Veteran's back disability is now rated at a 40 percent rating, which was previously denied. The Board found that the evidence supported this higher rating due to flare-ups causing increased pain and loss of range of motion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent and 20 percent for his lumbar spine strain with degenerative arthritis due to a lack of adequate examination findings.

The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability due to muscle spasms and reduced movement. The Board has found that the December 7, 2022 initial rating decision did not consider all relevant evidence and thus remands the case for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received for the claims of service connection for back, right elbow, right knee, and right shoulder disabilities. The claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and consideration.

The Board has granted an initial 40 percent evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, effective from the date of his claim.

The appeal for the issue of entitlement to service connection for a skin rash is dismissed. The appeals for entitlement to service connection for low back disorder and cerebrovascular accident (stroke) are remanded.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease and spondylosis have been granted service connection. The Veteran's recurrent lumbar spine, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations. The appeals will be adjudicated based on the evidence of record, which could include denial of the benefits sought.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, left shoulder strain, and right ankle strain. The denial is based on a lack of evidence showing that these conditions began during or were caused by his active service.,The Veteran was not diagnosed with any of these conditions until years after separation from service, and there is no medical evidence linking them to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial compensable rating for various conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating for restrictive lung disease, as his FEV-1 was within the range of 71 to 80 percent predicted.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc syndrome due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back condition.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested to withdraw his hearing request and the Board may only consider evidence up to 90 days prior to withdrawal.

The Board denied an increased disability rating for lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or neurological abnormalities. The evidence showed functional loss but no additional limitation beyond what is already reflected in the current 10% rating.

The Board dismissed the appeal as it was not timely filed and the issue of an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar strain with degenerative arthritis had already been decided by a final Board decision.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for several issues, including increased evaluations and service connection claims. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.