Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for adjudication of a claim regarding CUE in a March 1994 rating decision, which may impact his current effective date appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for low back and left foot disorders, finding that the current conditions were aggravated by the service-connected right foot disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder and lung disorder (COPD) are not service-connected. The low back disorder is denied due to lack of in-service injury or disease, while the lung disorder is denied as not related to asbestos exposure during service.

The Veteran's low back disorder and joint pain have been granted service connection.,Service connection has been established for left shoulder, lumbar spine, left hip, right thigh, left knee, and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine is granted. The Board finds that there is sufficient evidence to place the relevant evidence in equipoise as to whether the Veteran has a back disability related to service, and thus grants service connection.

The Board has found that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's low back disability is related to her service-connected disabilities, and thus grants service connection for a low back disability secondary to her service-connected bilateral knee and hip disabilities.

The Board has ordered the case remanded due to inadequate medical opinion and further development is required.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to December 30, 2003 is being referred to the VA Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with her education and experience prior to July 31, 2009.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with herniated disc disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and his bilateral leg disability is rated at 10 percent. The appeal for TDIU was not addressed as it did not meet the criteria.

The Veteran's lumbar muscle strain with degenerative osteoarthritis has not resulted in forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 30 degrees or less, ankylosis, or intervertebral disc syndrome with incapacitating episodes. Therefore, a rating in excess of 20 percent is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lumbar spine DDD with facet arthritis was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection for a back disability and a sleep disorder, to include as secondary to a back disability. The Board is dismissing these matters.

The Veteran's chronic low back disorder with left lumbar radiculopathy is not service-connected as it did not manifest during or due to service.,Hair loss, initially diagnosed as alopecia areata, resolved during service and is not considered a disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's low back, right lower extremity, and right upper extremity disabilities have been rated based on their severity under the General Formula for Rating Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The current ratings are granted as per the criteria set forth in the rating schedule.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not resulted in permanent and total disability that would qualify him for specially adapted housing or home adaptation grant.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease has not been shown to warrant a rating in excess of the current 20 percent. The TDIU claim is also denied as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from performing gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for low back arthritis and peripheral neuropathy of the left leg, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claims. The Veteran's left leg neuropathy was not presumed due to herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection have been withdrawn by the appellant.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 8, 2009.