Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to service, and therefore, service connection is denied.

The Board granted a 20% rating for the lumbar spine disability effective from March 10, 2011. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities are also rated separately at 10% each.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right thigh contusion, left foot disorder, right wrist disorder, throat disorder (claimed as reflux), and low back strain.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his service, and therefore, denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder, left shoulder, back, and right hip disabilities based on reopening of previously denied claims due to new evidence. The effective date is not specified as it was reopened.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining private and VA treatment records, as well as clarifying medical opinions regarding his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran has withdrawn all issues on appeal, including the requests for higher ratings for PTSD with alcohol abuse in remission, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and degenerative enthesitis of the left knee.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and updating the claims file with any relevant medical records.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied due to the presence of other non-service-connected disabilities. The Board has decided that a remand is necessary to obtain an opinion on whether his service-connected lumbar spine disorder and associated left leg radiculopathy render him unemployable, separate from any other disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and scoliosis, is attributable to service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected cervical spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to clarify the extent of neurological impairment associated with the condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hip disability and back disability are related to his active duty service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and lumbar strain disabilities prevented her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment from February 1, 2010 to March 31, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine and left hip disabilities are at least as likely as not proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected traumatic arthritis of the left knee.

The Board found that the Veteran's lower back disorder was not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records of private medical examinations and seeking an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's back disability.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective July 7, 2008. The appeal for a higher rating remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected asthma and low back strain are not found to render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and clarification of his current address.