Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent, effective June 9, 2011. He also receives separate ratings of 10 and 20 percent for his left and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disability, claimed as secondary to service-connected orthopedic disabilities. The December 2014 VA medical opinion constitutes probative evidence against the Veteran's claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion from the VA examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current back disabilities. The matter will be returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's leg disability is considered secondary to a service-connected back disability and claimed diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is related to his in-service injury and granted service connection.

The Veteran's TBI and psychiatric disorder were granted effective November 19, 2005. The Board found that the low back, neck, and right ankle conditions are not related to service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's type 2 diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease are service connected, with the latter being secondary to the former. The claims for higher ratings of his ankle and spine disabilities have been remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for his back disability and associated radiculopathy is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to outstanding records and additional development is needed.

The Veteran's tinnitus is presumed to have been incurred in service due to noise exposure during deployment.,Regarding the left carpal tunnel syndrome and numbness, the appeal remains pending as additional evidence and medical opinions are needed. The Veteran has not provided sufficient evidence or credible testimony to establish a direct link between his current condition and military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the issues of service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease and cervical intervertebral disc degeneration have been dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings for low back strain with degenerative disc disease was withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and need for additional opinions on his right knee, left knee, and low back disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling new examinations and readjudication of the TDIU issue.

The Veteran's low back disability was not manifested by unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine, neurologic abnormalities, or intervertebral disc syndrome prior to August 14, 2014. Therefore, a rating in excess of 40 percent is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear consideration of lay statements and a need for further examination. The Veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability is pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude her from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and thus, she is not entitled to a TDIU.

The Board found that the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was not incurred in service and is not related to his in-service back injuries. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied separate ratings for right and left leg sciatica, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were consistent with lumbar radiculopathy only.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and readjudication of the claims, including entitlement to service connection for headaches and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to his service-connected lumbar spondylosis with DDD.