Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, to include bilateral lower extremity sciatica, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic in-service injury or disease and that the current disability is not related to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of cervical spine strain with intervertebral disc syndrome, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, and right shoulder impingement syndrome with arthritis.

The Board granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) for the Veteran's service-connected conditions, which include fibromyalgia and other musculoskeletal issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine, left ankle deltoid ligament sprain, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, bilateral otitis externa, eczema, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain with osteoarthritis, tinnitus, left varicocele, and cystitis, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance due to Capsaicin cream used to treat his service-connected lumbosacral strain and/or bilateral pes planus pain in calendar year 2019, as the prescribed medication was determined not to cause permanent damage to clothing.

The Board remands the claim for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's chronic low back pain with sciatica is related to service.

The Veteran's lumbar strain disability is rated at 10 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating as his range of motion was still greater than what would be required for a more than 10 percent rating.

The Board remands the service connection claim for a back disability to obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's current back disabilities are related to his in-service fall and other incidents.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability from May 28, 2021, to October 12, 2021.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as unspecified anxiety disorder and intermittent explosive disorder, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The issues of entitlement to service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right foot disability, and tinnitus are remanded.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disorder and cervical spine disorder due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, including the need for VA examinations.

The Board remands the claim for a lumbar spine disability to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding its etiology, including whether it is related to service or a pre-existing condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to a lack of medical evidence linking the Veteran's claimed conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of adequate opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's low back disability during the entire period under consideration, January 2008 to December 2020. The VA must obtain an addendum opinion from a medical examiner.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine condition, left knee condition, left ankle condition, and right ankle condition as they were found to be duplicative appeals. The claim for a neck condition was remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar strain, finding that the Veteran's condition is related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine condition, lower left extremity sciatica, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and anxiety), erectile dysfunction, and hypertension. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions began during or are otherwise related to active service.

The Veteran's effective date for the award of service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is granted as November 12, 2014.,The Veteran's appeal regarding a disability rating in excess of 10 percent prior to March 6, 2017 for the right lower extremity radiculopathy has been dismissed due to a claims processing rule deficiency.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for asthma and a compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae, but remanded claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, headaches, back disorder, and sinus disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and a need for additional evidence. The claims will be reconsidered with consideration of all relevant evidence, including subsequent VA treatment records.