Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine DDD and DJD, as well as his LLE radiculopathy, are related to his service. Reasonable doubt has been resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining an adequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between his service-connected disabilities and his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD does not result in total occupational and social impairment, and his service-connected disabilities do not make him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment. Therefore, the Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for PTSD or TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to misfiled documents and outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims for service connection will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a new VA spine examination and issuance of a supplemental statement of the case regarding tinnitus.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent prior to September 17, 2015, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for various issues, including initial compensable rating for GERD and increased ratings for knee and cervical spine conditions. The reduction in the disability rating from 20 to 0 percent for left knee instability effective July 17, 2014 was found proper.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for the VA to obtain additional treatment records and conduct a new examination. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is intertwined with the above-mentioned claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for neck disability, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities, as well as his claim for TDIU, were denied by the Board.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verification of the Veteran's periods of service and scheduling VA examinations to determine if any claimed conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU as his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher 40 percent rating is warranted based on additional functional loss due to pain and flare-ups.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lower back disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis with disc bulging, is related to his period of active duty service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, and his right and left lower extremity radiculopathies are each rated at 10 percent prior to May 26, 2015. The Board denied all claims for higher ratings.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Colorado Springs Memorial Hospital records. A medical opinion is also needed regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to September 25, 2013.

The Board denied service connection for Degenerative Disc Disease of the Lumbar Spine and loss of feeling in the left leg, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Board has determined that the VA examination of the Veteran's lumbar spine is inadequate and requires a new one. Additionally, any outstanding private and VA treatment records should be obtained. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with the above-mentioned claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed low back disability, characterized as a lumbar strain and spondylosis, is service-connected. The evidence supports an in-service injury leading to current symptoms.