Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's current low back disability is related to service or preexisting conditions. The issue remains on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, right knee, and right hip disabilities are not service-connected as they were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board found no evidence to support service connection for a back disability and denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for an increased rating for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine with myositis, and thus the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has found that a rating in excess of 40 percent from April 28, 2015, is warranted. The Veteran also received an increased rating for his right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities have been found to prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment since November 9, 2010. A TDIU is granted.

The Board has granted increased initial ratings of 40 percent for the lumbar spine disability since September 20, 2013 and 20 percent for both right and left ankle disabilities since September 20, 2013. The Veteran's claims for service connection for plantar warts have been withdrawn.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess her service-connected lumbar strain and bilateral knee degenerative joint disease with tendonitis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, cervical spine degenerative disc disease, and sensory deficits in both upper extremities, are found to preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus disability had its onset in service and is granted as service connected.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA orthopedic examination and obtaining private treatment records from Dr. R.S.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for postural backache and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, finding that new evidence supports these claims. The Veteran served aboard a submarine during World War II and reported injuries sustained in combat situations which he believes contributed to his current back conditions.

The Veteran's back disability had its onset in service or is otherwise etiologically related to his active service, and the Board grants service connection for a back disability.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a low back disability was granted. The Board found that the Veteran's left carpal tunnel syndrome, right CTS, and foot disabilities were not entitled to increased ratings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to missing service medical records and incomplete etiology opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a neck/upper back disability and a right shoulder disability, finding no evidence of such disabilities in service or within one year after discharge. The Veteran's current symptoms are not shown to be related to his active service.,Service connection was also denied for TDIU as the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found that the Veteran's current cervical spine, lumbar spine, left knee, and leg numbness disorders are not related to service. The claims for these conditions were denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new examinations and completion of a VA Form 21-8940. The TDIU claim will be adjudicated after the necessary information has been obtained.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable since August 25, 2010.

The Veteran's DDD of the thoracolumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent since June 29, 2016. The claim for a higher rating has been denied as there is no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes of IVDS.