Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for further action, including scheduling a Board videoconference hearing.

The Veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected post-traumatic Parkinsonism with gait disorder and a retroactive effective date.,The Board has determined that the earliest effective date for service connection of post-traumatic Parkinsonism with gait disorder should be April 24, 2002.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the percentage criteria for TDIU and prevent him from securing or following a gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and personnel information, as well as for VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability is not service-connected, as it was likely caused by a fall during Reserve duty in 1989. The claim for reopening of his previously denied claim has been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a back injury, including degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine. The weight of evidence supports a finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to an in-service assault.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, left leg radiculopathy, and right leg radiculopathy are related to service. The appeal is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine, right knee, and left hip disabilities are not service-connected.,The Veteran does not have a diagnosed condition of hemorrhoids. His claimed hemorrhoids were previously diagnosed in 1998.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment, warranting a grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and low back disorder are not service-connected. The Board denied secondary service connection for both conditions, as the VA examiners found no link between PTSD and these disorders.

The Board found that the Veteran's chronic low back disorder, with residuals of lumbar laminectomy, did not have a direct causal relationship to his military service and denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee internal derangement with traumatic degenerative joint disease. The Board also found insufficient evidence to support a finding of direct service connection for the Veteran's left foot disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar strain, bilateral knee disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The decision is based on a finding that these conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied. The claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for the low back disability was granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to verify his claimed stressors and obtain all relevant medical records.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a VA examination due to the Veteran's incarceration, and he should be scheduled for an examination to determine if his low back disability is related to service.

The Veteran's left hip disability is not service-connected, and her degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine does not warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar spine disability, right knee strain, left knee strain, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to August 11, 2011. Effective from August 11, 2011, the Veteran is granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations were denied as the evidence did not show that her service-connected conditions warranted higher ratings.