Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Board has found that the Veteran's current diagnosis of degenerative disc disease (DDD) is related to an in-service injury, and thus service connection for DDD is granted.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disease of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy of the lower right extremity, finding that there was no direct or secondary service connection based on the evidence presented.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee and back conditions are not related to his military service, either on a direct or secondary basis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining copies of all VA examinations and private treatment records, scheduling a new VA examination for the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder, and requesting that the Veteran provide authorization for VA to obtain any relevant private treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbago with mild degenerative disc disease is as likely as not related to his military service, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and missing VA treatment records. The Veteran's low back disability will need to be evaluated again by a different examiner.

The Veteran's opioid use disorder is found to be secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The skin disorder is not related to service, and the bilateral hearing loss is found to have onset in service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the adequacy of the medical opinions provided and to ensure all relevant evidence is considered in determining whether service connection for a low back disability should be granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and cervical spine disabilities are related to his military service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected lumbar strain disability and its impact on daily life.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, do not meet the threshold percentage requirement for a TDIU as they combine to an 80% disability rating. The Veteran has failed to provide sufficient evidence of his current employment status and education history.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee and back conditions, as well as hypertension, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's lumbar disc disease was found to be in excess of 30 degrees of forward flexion, but not limited to 30 degrees or less. The Board denied a higher rating as the disability did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated as 20 percent prior to June 5, 2017 and 40 percent from June 5, 2017. The appeal is denied.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for the Veteran's neurological disability of the lower extremities as secondary to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's cervical spine strain is found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected low back disability, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including muscle spasms, is rated at 40 percent. Service connection for radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities are granted as secondary to the lumbar spine disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability was not incurred in service and is not etiologically related to service, including lower back pain during service. The claim for service connection was denied.