Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder has been reopened and granted.,Service connection is also granted for ischemic heart disease, presumed due to herbicide exposure.

The March 2010 rating decision denying service connection for a lumbosacral spine strain is final. However, the criteria for reopening that claim have been met.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claims for service connection for a low back disability and left shoulder disability can be decided.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the underlying claim for an increased rating for a lumbar spine disability can be adjudicated on the merits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle, left knee, right knee, bilateral hip, and right foot conditions have been reopened. The claim for service connection for a back condition has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability was reopened and granted. Tinnitus is found to be related to service noise exposure.,PTSD meets the criteria for a 70 percent rating from September 11, 2012, and TDIU is granted.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of evidence linking his current conditions to his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents. The effective date for the grant of service connection for coronary artery disease was not changed.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of service connection. The low back disability has been granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's right knee and lower leg, right hip, and low back disabilities are not considered service-connected as they are not related to his military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back condition is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder and bilateral shoulder disorder are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that he is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation by reason of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain relevant SSA records and schedule him for a VA examination regarding his left hip disability. The examiner will provide opinions on the likelihood of service connection for his left knee, lower back, and hip disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to missing or unavailable private medical records and an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities combine to preclude substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service connected disabilities. Therefore, TDIU is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and providing a new medical opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability related to his lumbar spine, upper extremities, or lower extremities. The claims for service connection are therefore denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 10 percent from August 20, 2009 to June 3, 2015 and at 40 percent from June 3, 2015. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an increased rating based on incapacitating episodes or under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.