Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine is rated at a 60 percent disability rating from March 9, 2016. The claim for SMC at the housebound rate is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a Veteran with examinations to determine the nature and cause of any right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, back disability, heart disability, hemorrhoids, and acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he/she has withdrawn all issues on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for further development due to insufficient medical opinions and missing VA records. The Veteran's low back disorder is being considered on its own merits, without presumptions or secondary service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar scoliosis, depression, left thumb disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, gastritis, GERD, and hiatal hernia. The decision is granted as new and material evidence has been received.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is found to be causally related to events during his active service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's sinusitis with associated congestion and intermittent chest pain was rated at 30 percent effective December 15, 2015.,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis was rated at 10 percent effective February 23, 2015.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claim for service connection of tinnitus is granted.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right hip strain, left hip strain, right knee arthritis, and left knee arthritis are not related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for a videoconference hearing due to the Veteran's request. The appeal is not about service connection at this stage.

The Veteran's back disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, and his left leg radiculopathy did not meet the criteria for a 20% rating.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection of a left eye disability, lumbar spine disability, and left knee disability have been denied as there is no evidence to support these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The claims for increased rating for a low back disability and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical opinions and information about the Veteran's work history.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than October 24, 2014 for the grant of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and earlier than February 16, 2016 for the grants of service connection for left and right lower extremity sciatic nerve radiculopathy have been denied.,The effective dates cannot be earlier than the date of claim due to lack of evidence showing entitlement prior to those dates.

The Veteran's low back disorder was granted a rating of 10 percent, effective from the date of the decision. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to service-connected low back disorder was also granted.

The Veteran's lower back disability is found to have been incurred during his military service.,Regarding PTSD, the appeal is not about service connection as it pertains to a personal assault and/or MST.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disability, including congenital scoliosis and degenerative lumbar spondylosis, is not related to active service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and associated radiculopathy were denied. The Veteran was not granted any new or higher ratings.