Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and left lower extremity conditions, diagnosed as minimal non-compression disc bulge at L4-L5, lumbar disc degeneration at L4-L5, chronic low back strain, and left lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy with paresthesias, are related to service. The appeal is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder did not begin during active service and is unrelated to any in-service injury or event, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine degenerative changes are currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including back disorder, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, headaches, high cholesterol, heart disorder, lung disorder, and skin disorder. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's tension headaches are currently evaluated as noncompensable, and the Board denied entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected tension headaches. The Veteran was also denied TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities not rendering him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with lumbar scoliosis was rated at 20 percent prior to December 11, 2015.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease is not rated higher than 40 percent, and he was granted TDIU from December 8, 2008 to March 10, 2013.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, low back, and prostate cancer disabilities. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and determine if there is a link between these conditions and service.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service and is more likely due to aging.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment for the entire appeal period, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for service-connected lumbar spine strain has been granted at a 40 percent level, effective from the date of decision. The appeal regarding bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and lumbar stenosis is not addressed as no appeal was perfected.

The Veteran's active duty service was less than 90 days and he did not have a service-connected disability. Therefore, his claim for non-service-connected disability pension benefits is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is not service-connected as it did not manifest within one year of separation from service and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology since separation. The medical opinions provided by VA examiners have consistently opined that the current condition is due to natural aging rather than an in-service injury.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board denied his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence for his bilateral foot condition claim. The low back condition rating remains denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an extension of the temporary total disability rating for convalescence beyond August 31, 2016 due to insufficient evidence showing severe postoperative residuals.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected erectile dysfunction and entitlement to an effective date earlier than September 1, 2013 for the grant of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction and radiculopathy, left lower extremity has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for initial increased ratings for service-connected lumbar strain and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been remanded due to incomplete private treatment records from PFM, MCFO, and CS&KS. The RO is instructed to obtain these records and update the electronic claims file with all outstanding VA treatment records.,The Veteran's appeals for entitlement to service connection for right and left foot disabilities have been remanded as the preexisting bilateral pes planus noted upon entry into service may have undergone an increase in disability during active duty service. An addendum medical opinion is needed to address this issue.,The Veteran's appeal for initial increased ratings for service-connected lumbar strain has been remanded due to incomplete private treatment records from PFM, MCFO, and CS&KS. The RO is instructed to obtain these records and update the electronic claims file with all outstanding VA treatment records.,The Veteran's appeals for entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected radiculopathy, left lower extremity have been remanded due to incomplete private treatment records from PFM, MCFO, and CS&KS. The RO is instructed to obtain these records and update the electronic claims file with all outstanding VA treatment records.,The Veteran's appeal for entitlement to a separate rating for exertional compartment syndrome in his right foot has been remanded due to incomplete private treatment records from PFM, MCFO, and CS&KS. The RO is instructed to obtain these records and update the electronic claims file with all outstanding VA treatment records.,The Veteran's appeals for entitlement to service connection for a left foot disability have been remanded due to incomplete private treatment records from PFM, MCFO, and CS&KS. The RO is instructed to obtain these records and update the electronic claims file with all outstanding VA treatment records.,The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected traumatic brain injury has been remanded due to incomplete private treatment records from PFM, MCFO, and CS&KS. The RO is instructed to obtain these records and update the electronic claims file with all outstanding VA treatment records.,The Veteran's appeals for entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left knee patellofemoral disability have been remanded due to incomplete private treatment records from PFM, MCFO, and CS&KS. The RO is instructed to obtain these records and update the electronic claims file with all outstanding VA treatment records.,The Veteran's appeals for entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected right knee patellofemoral disability have been remanded due to incomplete private treatment records from PFM, MCFO, and CS&KS. The RO is instructed to obtain these records and update the electronic claims file with all outstanding VA treatment records.,The Veteran's appeal for effective date earlier than July 18, 2017 for the increased 50 percent disability rating awarded for service-connected migraine headaches has been remanded due to incomplete private treatment records from PFM, MCFO, and CS&KS. The RO is instructed to obtain these records and update the electronic claims file with all outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for patellar tendonitis, right knee and tinnitus have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for a lower/mid back disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right hip and low back conditions due to a motor vehicle accident in service. The records from Fort Ord Army hospital need to be obtained, and VA examinations are needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity were denied effective December 3, 2013.