Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, right foot disability, left shoulder disability, and acquired psychiatric disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 40 percent since July 23, 2015. The effective date for this rating is to be determined based on the Veteran's testimony regarding flare-ups.

The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's current low back disability is related to his service, and therefore service connection for this condition cannot be granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a DRO hearing and obtaining VA treatment records. Additionally, the Veteran needs to be scheduled for VA examinations of his right knee, wrist, back, and PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability and migraine headaches are service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine degenerative disc disease and assigned a 10% disability rating effective from the date of claim.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for neck and low back disabilities. The case is being remanded to allow for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory condition, right ankle disability, left knee disability, and lumbar spine disability were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected low back disability, as well as any radiculopathy in his right lower extremity. The Veteran's claim of increased rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity will also be addressed.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection of a heart condition and for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, right leg sciatica, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome. The appeals were not granted.

The Board found that the reductions in evaluations for the Veteran's lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities were improper, and restored the prior ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and low back disability, finding no evidence of a nexus to service or exposure to herbicides/mustard gas.

The Veteran's thoracic and lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum allowable rating under the diagnostic criteria. The cervical spine disability is also rated at 10 percent. No other conditions have been granted increased ratings.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's increased rating claims, service connection claim for shoulder disorders, and TDIU claim.

The Veteran's back disability is granted, and his right and left knee disabilities are each rated at 10 percent.

The Board granted a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's low back disorder effective March 26, 2015. The initial increased evaluation claim was denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary due to the inadequacy of the most recent VA examination for rating purposes, and thus the case is being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral leg numbness was denied, and his low back strain rating was increased to 20 percent. The TDIU claim was granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ankle and knee disabilities, as well as back and left shoulder disabilities. Further development is needed to determine the current nature and etiology of these conditions.