Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete records, particularly those uploaded into Vista Imaging and private medical records from the Veteran's CHOICE and Community Care programs.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to failure to attend scheduled VA examinations. The Veteran is advised to contact VA and provide a reason if he cannot attend the upcoming examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and development of records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and left hip degenerative joint disease are related to his active-duty service, with the evidence being in equipoise. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical strain, left ankle strain, and right lower extremity sciatica secondary to lumbosacral strain. Service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied due to lack of current diagnosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability, finding that there is no current diagnosis and no evidence of any in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disability, right shoulder pain, left shoulder pain, and headaches due to a duty to assist error in obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new addendum opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's low back disorder is related to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right shoulder disability, tinnitus, arthritis, and back disability are denied. The claim for an increased rating for tinnitus is also denied.

The Veteran's service connection for major depressive disorder, lumbosacral strain, and pelvic pain is restored. The rating for lumbosacral strain remains at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as lumbar spondylosis, degenerative disc disease, and lumbar facet arthropathy, is related to service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability. The Veteran is requested to undergo another VA examination.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted as the Veteran's tinnitus manifested within one year of separation from active service.,Service connection for a back disability is granted as the Veteran reported experiencing back pain during active service and has continued to experience flare-ups since then.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have precluded substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational experience, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for ratings greater than 20 percent for lumbar strain with spondylolisthesis and joint space narrowing, a compensable rating for right medial tibial stress syndrome (also claimed as right ankle shin splints), and a rating greater than 30 percent for asthma.

The Board has decided the left shoulder disability claim in favor of the Veteran, granting service connection. However, due to new evidence received regarding the low back disability, the case is being remanded for further review.

The Veteran's RLE and LLE lumbar radiculopathy are currently rated at 20 percent each, effective June 4, 2020.,The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 40 percent for a lumbar spine disability and entitlement to TDIU due to unresolved issues. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a back condition has been dismissed due to the appellant, through his authorized representative, requesting withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's chronic strain of the lumbosacral spine prior to September 6, 2017 is currently rated at 10 percent and not higher.