Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20% for painful motion resulting in forward flexion of the spine to 60 degrees or greater. The claims for service connection for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as a right hand disability, are denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed thoracolumbar disorder or bilateral knee disorder, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent, effective April 1, 2016. The rating reflects severe limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since February 10, 1999. The TDIU is granted for this period.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and right ankle disability, as well as whether these conditions are related to his military service or any other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, as well as his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board found that there is no established current right knee disability and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection. The issue of an increased rating for degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine was also addressed, but a final decision could not be rendered due to the inextricably intertwined TDIU claim.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection claims for various conditions, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted since previous denials.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing the Veteran with appropriate VA examinations to assess his service-connected left foot disability and low back condition.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals regarding the increased rating for lumbar spondylosis and service connection for depression before a decision was made.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to assess the impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his employability, and for completion of the Veteran's VA Form 21-8940.

The Veteran's appeal is denied for the issues of higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for dental disorder for VA compensation purposes, bilateral eye disability (including cataracts and normal tension glaucoma), kidney disability (including kidney stones), diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. The appeals are all denied as not supported by evidence.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's current back disabilities, including whether they are related to service or preexisting conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 and herniated lumbar disc at L5-S1 are related to service, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a new VA examination and an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's lumbosacral degenerative joint disease has been rated at 20 percent since February 9, 2011.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability and granted service connection based on continuity of symptomatology.

The Board found no additional disability in the low back and legs resulting from the July 2005 VA surgery, and thus denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

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