Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected left hip and lumbar spine disabilities, along with her mood disorder, have rendered her unemployable since July 3, 2008.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need to obtain additional medical evidence. The Veteran's claim for an extended temporary total convalescent rating related to his service-connected back disability is pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in a combined effect that warrants an extra-schedular rating, and his claim for heart disease is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected back and knee disabilities rendered him unable to engage and retain substantially gainful employment as of May 1, 2008. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and low back disorder are all found to be related to his military service. The Veteran is granted service connection for these conditions. However, the Veteran's cervical spine disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to September 1, 2015.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right knee, foot, hip, shoulder, sleep disorder, asthma, and hypertension. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a direct link between the claimed conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability and associated radiculopathy in the bilateral upper extremities have been rated at 40 percent since April 12, 2002.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection as his current lumbosacral strain is not etiologically related to his active military service.

The Veteran's DDD of the thoracic and lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent since May 17, 2017. Prior to that date, it was rated at 10 percent. The bone spur and mild degenerative changes of the right ankle are rated as noncompensable prior to May 17, 2017, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter. The inflammatory spondylopathies with multiple joint involvement is rated at 20 percent since May 21, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The TDIU claim will also be remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his lumbar spine disability and left leg sciatica are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's panic disorder is rated at 30 percent since January 27, 2012.,The Veteran's low back disability has been rated at 10 percent since October 23, 2011. The claim for a higher rating remains pending.,The Veteran's neck disability has been rated at 10 percent since October 18, 2013.,The Veteran's left upper extremity radiculopathy and carpal tunnel syndrome have been rated at 30 percent since October 23, 2011.,The Veteran's digestive disability has not yet reached the threshold for a higher rating.,The Veteran's painful scars have been rated as non-compensable (0 percent).,The Veteran's anemia has not yet reached the threshold for a higher rating.,The Veteran's uterine condition, with secondary voiding dysfunction, has been rated at 30 percent since October 18, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations to assess the current severity of her service-connected lupus discoid, cervical spine strain, and lower lumbar disc disease.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as she withdrew her claim for service connection for depression.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability, sleep apnea, neck condition and gastrointestinal condition are all service-connected. The Board has also granted service connection for sinusitis and low back condition. However, the Veteran's bilateral shoulder, elbow, wrist and knee conditions have not been established as service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a new examination to assess the severity of her right knee disability. A medical opinion will also be obtained regarding whether her low back disability is related to service or her service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the manifestations of service-connected mechanical low back pain syndrome and Parkinson's disease, and readjudicating his claims.

The Veteran's significant service-connected disabilities, including major depression, prostate carcinoma, and peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, necessitate regular aid and attendance from another person. The Board has determined that these conditions meet the criteria for SMC based on need for aid and attendance.