Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection and rated at 10 percent.,For his lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease, the rating remains at 10 percent as there is no evidence of functional impairment warranting a higher rating.,Right hip strain limitation of flexion continues to be rated at 10 percent.,Left hip strain limitation of flexion also remains at 10 percent.,Right hip limitation of extension, right hip impairment of thigh, and left hip limitation of extension are all rated at 0 percent as there is no evidence of functional impairment warranting a higher rating.,Left hip impairment of thigh is also rated at 0 percent for the same reason.

The Veteran's ED is not found to be secondary to his service-connected conditions of chronic lumbar strain and left shoulder biceps tendinitis, and the Board denied service connection for this condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of cervical spine condition, left hip condition, right hip condition, and lumbar spine condition as these claims have been resolved in favor of the Veteran by a prior decision.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance prior to December 15, 2021 was denied as there is no evidence showing he required regular aid and assistance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was granted an increased rating to 40 percent, and his service connection claim for dementia was denied. Other claims were remanded.

The Veteran's initial rating for tinnitus remains at 10 percent, and service connection is granted for a sleep disability. The Board finds the evidence in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's back, psychiatric, right hand, lower leg, or knee disabilities had their onset during active service.

The Veteran's left knee strain, meniscal tear, and degenerative arthritis are found to be related to his service-connected ankle disabilities. His low back disability is also found to be related to his service-connected ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions regarding his mental state at the time of misconduct, as well as obtaining relevant treatment records.

The Board has found errors in the duty to assist and remands both claims for further development. The Veteran's left ankle disability is claimed as multiple ankle injuries and gout, while his lumbar spine disability is claimed as strain or injury.

The Board has granted service connection for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities as secondary to a service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and disc disease. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Veteran's reduction in the evaluation for dermatitis from 10 percent to a noncompensable rating was not proper, and his 10 percent rating is reinstated. The Board has also remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and left knee arthritis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment as of February 18, 2019.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and radiculopathy in the bilateral lower extremities to ensure a complete record is available.

The Veteran's cervical spine strain and sprain are related to service, while the low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent. The right lower extremity radiculopathy is not rated higher than 10 percent.,The Board found that the evidence does not support an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's low back disability.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status due to service-connected disabilities prior to December 2, 2019, and from February 1, 2021, is denied as he did not meet the criteria for such benefits.

The Board granted an effective date of August 7, 1973 for the award of service connection for a lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, right hip arthritis, and right knee arthritis, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since March 16, 2021. His TDIU is granted with an effective date of March 16, 2021.

The Board has remanded the case for further evaluation of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim due to a pre-decisional error in the previous VA audiological examination.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar strain with DDD was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for hemorrhoids was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for migraine headaches was denied.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU due to the combined effects of service-connected disabilities was dismissed as moot.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU solely due to service connected lumbar strain with DDD, hemorrhoids, or migraine headaches was denied.

The Veteran's claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, right leg condition, sinusitis, and lower back condition have all been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,There is no persuasive evidence that the Veteran's claimed disabilities began during service or are related to any in-service injury, event, or disease.