Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability in April 2013. The Veteran's claim was reopened based on new evidence, but the claim remains denied as there is no established link between his current back condition and military service or a service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy have been rated based on their current severity, with a 20 percent rating for each condition from April 12, 2016.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected back and neck disabilities are at least in equipoise with his current diagnoses, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion and adjudicating claims of entitlement to SMC(l) based on loss of use of the feet and SMC(o) based on paraplegia due to service-connected lumbar spine disability. The appeal is now back before the Board.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to obtain additional medical records and an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back and bilateral knee disorders. The appeal is now pending for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and assigned a rating of 20 percent for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, the maximum available under VA's rating criteria.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current lumbar and cervical spine disabilities to his military service, including a 1977 incident where he fell during an exercise. The VA examiners concluded that any current conditions are not related to service.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected cervical spine degenerative disc and joint disease, effective from October 24, 2008. The decision also found that erectile dysfunction is secondary to his service-connected psychoneurosis.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis since October 8, 1999 due to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed as a result.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for lumbar spine disability and denied reopening of his cervical spine claim. The cervical spine claim was also denied as secondary to service-connected lumbar spine degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar strain is found to be related to his service, as the condition increased in severity during his active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, low back disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, and arthritis of the first metatarsal joints have been denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disorders and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, including as due to service-connected anemia. The initial disability rating for anemia remains at 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for IBS, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of IBS is a result of his service in the Persian Gulf War. The other issues have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's cervical and low back disorders are being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records, including from private providers. The VA examiner will determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability, including degenerative changes at L1-L5 and S1 and herniated disc (degenerative disc disease), is due to service. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of current disabilities for the claimed lung nodules, right knee disability, and back disability. The Veteran's assertions regarding past injuries are not competent medical evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar strain was evaluated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s range of motion did not meet criteria for a higher evaluation.