Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Board found no in-service injury or disease related to the claimed back and left elbow disabilities, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of extraschedular provisions.

The Veteran's OSA, right shoulder, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities are found to be aggravated by his service-connected bronchial asthma with COPD. His headaches are related to his cervical spine DDD.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability has been rated at 20 percent since August 18, 2015. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to this date.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is not considered service-connected, and the Board denied his claim for secondary headaches.

The Veteran's current right knee disorder results from injury incurred during a period of ACDUTRA in July 1966, and service connection is granted.

The Veteran's low back strain with degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine was granted a 10 percent rating from July 1, 1997 to October 30, 2006. Since then, he is entitled to a higher rating for this condition. The arthritis of the thoracic spine has also been rated at its maximum schedular value.

The VA reduced the disability rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine from 40 percent to 20 percent effective January 1, 2008 due to improvement in range of motion.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records prior to 1991 and securing an adequate VA medical opinion on the etiology of his lower back disability. The issues of entitlement to increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are also pending.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability, finding that it more closely resembled favorable ankylosis.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating of 20 percent for low back disability, and the Board has dismissed the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed knee, neck, and back disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for further development, including consideration of new evidence and a VA examination. The appeal will be returned to the Board after this additional review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed chronic respiratory disorder or low back disorder, and thus service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is currently evaluated at a 20 percent rating, effective prior to July 15, 2011. The cervical spine condition has been service connected and rated as direct.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability did not originate in service and has not been shown to be etiologically related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his cervical spine disability. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records.

The Board has determined that there has not been substantial compliance with the March 2015 remand instructions and thus, another remand is required to obtain complete copies of the Veteran's personnel records and verify all periods of service. Additionally, a supplemental opinion is needed for both the low back disorder and hypertension issues.