Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2018

The Veteran's lumbar spine osteoarthritis with mild scoliosis is rated at 10 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The right lower extremity radiculopathy due to this condition is also rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a neck disability is dismissed as the claim has been fully granted by a January 2016 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus has been reopened and granted. His right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and lumbar spine disorder have also been granted as secondary to his now service-connected pes planus.,PTSD ratings remain unchanged.

The Veteran's appeal to increase his rating for a lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis and strain has been withdrawn by his representative.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, claimed as a bulging disc protrusion at L4-L5, is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's low back disability is not service-connected, but his left ankle disability has been rated at 20% since the appeal period began. The issue of service connection for a low back disability remains unresolved.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for limitation of flexion of the bilateral knees and back strain. The Veteran's sleep apnea and tinnitus have not been established as related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for throat cancer, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back disability, skin cancer, and an acquired psychiatric condition (PTSD) have been granted. The decision also addressed the reopening of these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran with appropriate VA examinations to determine the severity of his service-connected scar disability, as well as the nature and etiology of any claimed back disability and TBI.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic lumbar spine disability due to lack of evidence of current disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder impingement syndrome, a back disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle and knee disorders as well as a lower back disorder are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and provide an updated opinion from the VA examiner.

The Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes.,There is no evidence of a current left knee disability in the record.

The Veteran's degenerative changes of the lumbar spine with spondylolisthesis and fusion, L4 to S1 are currently rated at 40 percent since July 12, 2016. The appeal is denied as there is no evidence that warrants a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, and his radiculopathy of the left lower extremity does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine was granted a 10 percent rating prior to February 11, 2004 and a 40 percent rating beginning on that date.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with DDD was granted an initial 10 percent rating from February 2, 1994 to August 14, 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disorder, back disorder, right knee disorder, and bilateral lower extremities disability. The decision is based on a finding that these conditions are not related to active military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The left knee disability was rated at 10 percent, the neck disorder and back disorder were not related to service or a service-connected condition, the right shoulder disorder and left hip disorder were also not related to service or a service-connected condition, and the umbilical hernia was not listed among diseases for which presumptive service connection applies. The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his combined disability rating did not meet the threshold for entitlement.