Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Board denied service connection for a right hip disorder, finding no current disability. However, the Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as her combined rating of 90% supports this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability and assigned a rating of 10 percent. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical spine disability and right upper extremity radiculopathy, as well as the propriety of withholding past-due benefits in the amounts of $47,640.73 and $4,486.82, are remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed bilateral foot, left knee, left eye, and low back conditions did not have their onset in service or within one year of discharge. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed conditions of lumbar spine arthritis, degenerative disc disease (DDD), and spondylosis are not related to service. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of ankylosis or other factors. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also denied as his service-connected disability does not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right knee condition has been granted service connection and assigned a zero percent rating.,Service connection for the left shoulder disability is pending, as new and material evidence has been received. The effective date of service connection will be determined upon finalization of this claim.,Service connection for the low back disability is pending, as new and material evidence has been received. The effective date of service connection will be determined upon finalization of this claim.,The Veteran's right foot arthritis has been granted service connection and assigned a zero percent rating.,Service connection for the right lower extremity neurological condition is pending, as new and material evidence has not yet been received. The effective date of service connection will be determined upon finalization of this claim.,The Veteran's hypertension has been granted service connection and assigned a 100 percent rating (the maximum available).,Service connection for the headaches is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his low back disability, including whether it is related to service or secondary to his service-connected left and right quadricep disabilities.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's back disability, and thus the claim is being remanded for this purpose.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and because additional treatment records are needed. The Veteran will need a new examination to determine if his service connection claim should be granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to evaluate his left inguinal hernia and lumbosacral strain. The issues of service connection for lumbosacral strain and right leg sciatica are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine and right shoulder disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board found that the Appellant's low back injury did not have its onset during service and he does not have a service-connected disability. Therefore, his claim for service connection was denied, as well as his claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including PTSD, low back disability, left hip and leg disabilities, headaches, right foot disability, and left foot disability. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen previously denied claims for right and left foot disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to insufficient explanation of the VA examiner's opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability and bilateral pes planus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back and neck disorders are not related to his military service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability did not have its onset in service or for many years thereafter and is not otherwise etiologically related to service. Therefore, the claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back disability is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected lumbosacral and cervical spine disabilities, as well as bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, are being remanded due to inadequate examinations in the past. The VA is required to obtain updated medical opinions regarding functional loss caused by flare-ups.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and a separate 20 percent rating for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity prior to September 15, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the inextricably intertwined issues of the rating and effective date assigned for his service-connected DDD of the thoracolumbar spine. The TDIU issue will be handled pending resolution of these matters.