Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine DDD, C3 to C7 and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and DDD. The Veteran's current hearing loss is rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection of scoliosis/lumbar strain, and the Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's request for an extension of the period for filing a VA Form 10182 as to the March 2021 decision on service connection issues is dismissed because the appeal has already been pending and docketed at the Board.

The Veteran's TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) based on permanent and total disability status are granted effective November 19, 2015.,The Veteran's increased rating for his degenerative joint disease with low back strain is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed because the April 2022 rating decision was not a valid decision and did not provide notice of its contents to the Veteran. The August 1997 rating decision remains the most recent prior decision on these issues.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a failure to file a timely Notice of Disagreement within one year of the April 2018 rating decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is related to his military service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 10 percent, left knee strain (claimed as right knee pain) is remanded for further review, and tinnitus is rated at 10 percent. The service connection for left ear hearing loss has been denied.

The Veteran's PTSD and lumbar spine disability were granted initial ratings of 70 percent and 40 percent, respectively, effective from May 10, 2019, and March 8, 2019. The decision also noted that the Veteran had previously requested a higher level review on September 1, 2021.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and consideration of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, specifically addressing the impact of flare-ups and repetitive use on his range of motion.

The Veteran's lumbar strain is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board found that his forward flexion was limited to 50 degrees during flare-ups, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board denied an increased rating.

The Veteran's claims for annual VA clothing allowances due to the use of back, right knee, left wrist, and shoulder braces have been granted. These allowances are subject to the laws and regulations governing monetary payments.

The appeal for service connection for tinnitus is dismissed.,Service connection for a back condition, sciatic nerve radiculopathy in the right lower extremity, and sciatic nerve condition in the left lower extremity are denied.,Service connection for a neck condition, left shoulder condition, and left elbow condition are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current lower back condition is related to service. The claim will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is rated at 40 percent from June 1, 2022.,Service connection for degenerative disc disease (cervical DDD) is granted.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral heavy/painful legs, type II diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, lumbar strain (back condition), gastric neoplasm/ulcer (stomach cancer), and a chronic multi-symptom illness are being readjudicated due to the submission of new and relevant evidence.

The Veteran's right ear condition with dizziness is granted service connection. The claims for left ear, heart, chest pain, prostate, stomach, neck, back, hip, ankle, and foot conditions are denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that an evaluation in excess of this rating is not warranted based on the evidence provided.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including additional VA examinations to assess the current severity of the service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for degenerative disc disease and radiculopathy of the lower extremities are being remanded due to a lack of sufficient medical evidence. The Board will need to obtain new examinations to determine the current severity of these conditions.