Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2017

The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective since May 22, 2013. The rating reflects the limitation of motion and pain in the thoracolumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional private treatment records. The Veteran's low back disorder is being evaluated, and efforts are made to obtain relevant medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, migraines, diabetes mellitus type 2, coronary artery disease, lumbar spine disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right hip disorder, and left hip disorder. The claims were not reopened as new and material evidence was not received.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran's service-connection claims for a lower back condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of PTSD, a chronic disability manifested by chest pain and heart pain, and frostbite of the hands. The remaining claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU throughout the entire period on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis effective November 2, 2008. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since that date.

The Board found no direct service connection for the low back disability and denied secondary service connection for neurological disabilities of the bilateral lower extremities. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease (DDD) was granted. The separate ratings for LLE and RLE radiculopathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves were also granted, effective April 22, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and denied his claims for service connection. The claim for increased rating for lumbar strain is also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding his claimed disabilities, including schizophrenia and other musculoskeletal issues. The Board will consider the evidence in its entirety during the remand process.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and a respiratory disorder, to include asthma. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his period of active service.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability is rated at 20 percent, and the Board has granted an extraschedular rating for this condition. The Veteran also received a TDIU prior to January 10, 2010.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbosacral spine and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's service-connected low back strain does not prevent him from securing or following substantial gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate VA examination reports and because of an inextricably intertwined issue of TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the appellant notifying the Board of their desire to withdraw the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The appellant's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since June 14, 2011.