Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and increased the ratings for left and right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome to 60 percent and 50 percent, respectively. The Veteran was also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including a back condition, hearing loss, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type 2, and various musculoskeletal disorders. The appeal of the claims for a back condition, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus was dismissed due to untimely notice of disagreement.

The veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection and increased rating, as he has since been awarded 100 percent disability.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and cervical spine disability, to include bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of various conditions are being remanded due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board granted an effective date of March 22, 2017, for the award of service connection for radiculopathy of both lower extremities but denied increased ratings for these conditions and remanded a claim for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left hip degenerative arthritis and lumbar degenerative arthritis and scoliosis, as secondary to his service-connected left knee joint osteoarthritis with patellofemoral pain syndrome and right ankle sprain. The VA examiner is requested to provide addendum opinions regarding these claims.

The Board has identified pre-decisional error in the rating decision and has ordered a remand to obtain a VA examination that complies with Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158 (2016), for evaluation of the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Board remands the case for an adequate examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee degenerative joint disease.

The appeal for an increased rating for degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine, is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for allergic rhinitis, finding it at least likely as not that the Veteran's current condition had onset during service. Service connection was denied for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with IVDS.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a bilateral shoulder condition, back condition, and nightmares have been denied. The restoration of the 30% rating for GERD with Helicobacter pylori is granted, but the entitlement to a higher rating for GERD is denied. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral peripheral retinal degeneration is also denied.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed disabilities, finding that the Veteran did not provide sufficient evidence to establish a present disability.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for several issues related to service connection and disability ratings, as the appellant requested withdrawal of these appeals prior to the decision being made.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia and bilateral shin splints have been granted service connection. The cervical spine, lumbar spine, right elbow, and miscarriage claims are remanded for further development.,Service connection has been established for fibromyalgia and bilateral shin splints based on their relationship to active duty service.

The Board remands the claims for a higher rating and service connection due to inadequate examinations and missing evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of his back condition, finding that there is no credible evidence linking his current back conditions to his military service.

The Board dismissed all claims for service connection, including those for PTSD, head injury, left hand strain, left knee strain, lumbosacral strain, left thumb fracture, bilateral pes planus, plantar fasciitis, right hand strain, and right knee strain. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The claims for a change in the character of discharge and compensation for lumbosacral strain and PTSD are remanded due to an error in notifying the appellant about the necessary steps.