Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent since June 12, 2012. This rating reflects the maximum available for this condition based on range of motion.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a low back disorder, and right knee and ankle disorders. The Veteran's claims were not supported by sufficient evidence to establish the required medical diagnoses or link between current conditions and military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee and low back disabilities are not service-connected as they did not manifest during or as a result of his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have any neurologic abnormalities, including bowel impairment associated with his service-connected lumbar spine disability. Therefore, he is denied a separate rating for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for lumbar spine disability and service connection for tinnitus are still pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical and lumbar spine disorders are not related to service or service-connected conditions, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has decided the direct service connection claim for lumbar spine disability but is remanding the secondary service connection issue due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is related to his in-service injury and granted service connection. The initial rating for PTSD remains at 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for extraschedular ratings and secondary service connection, as these issues are inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim. The Veteran's sarcoidosis prevents him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's low back disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and bilateral foot hallux rigidus with bone spurs status post repair, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbosacral degenerative disc disease was denied as the evidence did not show ankylosis or other conditions warranting a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus denying his claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 10 percent prior to May 16, 2016 and increased to 20 percent from May 16, 2016.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back and psychiatric disabilities are not related to his active service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back and right ankle disabilities are not related to his service-connected left ankle disability, and therefore denied both claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, head injury, slow-healing wounds, alcoholism, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities have been denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his active military service.,Service records do not show any complaints, treatment, or diagnoses related to these conditions during his period of service. The Veteran's current conditions are not shown to be due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain with fracture of L1 and T12 and scars was increased to a 40 percent rating effective December 18, 2009.