Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to report for a VA examination, and further action is required in order to comply with the duty to assist as mandated by 38 U.S.C. § 5103A.

The Board has remanded the claims for VA etiology opinions due to a lack of substantial compliance with previous directives.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic back strain with degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 40 percent, and he has been granted a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities from July 10, 2014.

The Veteran's low back disability was found to not warrant a rating in excess of the currently assigned ratings prior to and from February 13, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's low back, cervical spine and bilateral knee disabilities are considered due to undiagnosed illness related to Gulf War service. Service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment for which he would otherwise be qualified.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 10 percent from August 25, 2005 to April 20, 2011; increased to 20 percent from April 20, 2011 to April 26, 2016, and further increased to 40 percent thereafter.,The Veteran is not considered unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities prior to April 20, 2011.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was found to have a range of motion that did not meet the criteria for a higher rating from March 7, 2010. The current 20% rating is maintained.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 12, 2012 for the award of Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been granted. The Board found that the evidence supported a finding of entitlement to this higher rating based on the severity of his IBS symptoms.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric, right knee, bilateral hip, and back disorders are not service-connected. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip and low back disabilities are secondary to her service-connected left ankle disability.,A rating of 20 percent is granted for the Veteran's service-connected left ankle sprain from November 10, 2016 onward.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder as secondary to his service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his claimed conditions are not attributable to service. The VA examinations and medical opinions provided no evidence linking the current conditions to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for GERD. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is found to be etiologically related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a neck disorder, low back disorder, and left wrist disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for a hearing loss disability of the left ear and has found no legal basis for awarding service connection for a dental disorder for compensation purposes. The remaining issues have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need to consider his back disability in addition to his heart disability, and because new evidence has been added since the last decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disorder is unrelated to active duty service and denied his claim for service connection.