Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that new examinations are necessary for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar strain, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to outdated examination reports. The cases are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for lower back and left knee disorders on the basis that there was no evidence of a nexus between the current conditions and military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and lower back disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is currently rated at 10 percent based on limitation of motion, and the Board finds this rating to be appropriate given his range of motion findings.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as he did not meet the schedular criteria for a total disability evaluation due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development, including a need for an additional VA examination and obtaining private medical records.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his degenerative disc disease with spondylolisthesis was dismissed because the Veteran withdrew his request for a hearing and did not allege any errors of fact or law.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability, nerve damage in the left foot as secondary to a left ankle disability, and a back disability, either directly due to service or as secondary to a left ankle disability.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is rated at 40 percent, effective February 10, 2016. The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine remains rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a low back disability as secondary to a left ankle disability due to an inadequate addendum opinion from the VA examiner. The new addendum opinion must consider the fact that the Veteran's left leg is ¾ inch shorter than his right leg due to surgery for his left ankle condition.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. The back and knee disabilities are remanded for additional examination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression, fatigue and lethargy is remanded due to the need for a comprehensive nerve evaluation.,The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of radiculopathy in both upper and lower extremities are also remanded as current evidence does not provide a clear picture of their severity.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective the day of the examination. The right knee disability remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain disability resulted in forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine at least 30 degrees but less than 60 degrees from November 13, 2013 to January 2, 2018. The Board granted a 40% disability rating for this period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is at least as likely as not related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for major depressive disorder and chronic rhinitis are granted. Service connection is denied for lumbar spine DDD, DA, and left hip disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 100 percent since May 13, 2014. The Veteran’s lumbar spine strain is currently rated at 20 percent.,The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability remains on appeal as it was raised in conjunction with the increased rating claim for PTSD.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right foot sprain is denied as there is no evidence of any relationship between her current diagnosis and military service.,Her increased rating claim for chalazion left eye remains denied, with the Board noting that she does not have any visual acuity or visual field defect.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy and degenerative disease of the lumbar spine are both rated under the appropriate VA rating criteria, resulting in a combined evaluation of 40 percent. The Board finds that separate compensation for the right lower extremity radiculopathy is not warranted.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of degenerative osteoarthritis, bronchitis, seborrheic keratosis, a low back disorder, a rectal abscess status post excision, and headaches with dizziness have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded these issues for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected T12-L1 disc herniation with degenerative disc disease was denied as the evidence did not show that the disability warranted a rating higher than 10 percent.