Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's tinnitus was found to have onset during service and is presumed incurred therein. The Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a back injury/low back disorder in February 2009. The Veteran's claim was reopened, but new and material evidence has not been received to establish a link between the current condition and his period of active service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating based on functional loss due to pain and other symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and inextricably intertwined with his TDIU claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a back disability, finding that new and material evidence had not been received. The Court affirmed this decision.

The Veteran's left shoulder replacement disability is currently rated at 50 percent, and his lumbar spondylolisthesis is rated at 60 percent. The Board denied an increased rating for the left shoulder and found that the criteria for TDIU were met during certain periods. SMC at the housebound rate was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and consideration of the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability.

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

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent for the period after September 19, 2017. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and service-connected right knee disability did not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to September 15, 2006. The Board found that his other service-connected conditions, including posttraumatic stress disorder and lumbosacral strain, also did not render him unemployable.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a thoracic spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and right shoulder disability for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence received since the final decisions is either cumulative or redundant of previous evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right first metatarsal fracture with DJD, finding that there is at least a 50% probability that his current back disability was caused or aggravated by his service-connected right foot condition.

The Veteran's disability ratings for lumbar spine and cervical spine conditions were reduced from their previous levels to reflect improvement in the Veteran's condition.,Both reductions were based on VA examinations conducted after the initial rating decisions, which showed significant improvement in the Veteran's range of motion.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional VA and private treatment records, provide VCAA notice regarding secondary service connection claims, and conduct further development including obtaining an addendum opinion and/or VA examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD and low back disability have been granted, but the effective dates are not specified. The Veteran is also granted TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected knee and back disabilities, including lumbosacral spine degenerative joint disease at L4-L5 with limitation of motion, right knee status post-ligament damage, right knee traumatic mild degenerative arthritis with loss of motion, left knee laxity of the medial collateral ligament, and left knee traumatic osteoarthritis with limitation of motion. The appeal is currently pending due to a need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for both the low back disorder and PTSD claims, including obtaining additional medical records and arranging for VA examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a low back disability is granted as he has been diagnosed with degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine both during and after his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of his lumbar spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.