Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any claimed conditions and finds no evidence to support service connection for these disorders.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various joint and back disabilities have been denied as there is no evidence of current diagnoses or in-service incurrence.

The Veteran's use of his back brace for his service-connected lumbar spine disability tends to wear or tear his clothing, and the Board finds that this is sufficient to warrant a clothing allowance for the year 2016.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and psychiatric disability (including PTSD and depression) are granted. The claim for the low back disability is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease, finding that the evidence did not show forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less or favorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronic in-service injury or disease and no continuity of symptomatology. The Board also found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(a).

The Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar strain is not found to be the cause of her degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and sciatica.,The Veteran's loss of teeth and residuals of dental treatment are not considered a compensable disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that his current condition was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. The Board also found no continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board denied a claim for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for service-connected low back disability from February 15, 2008. The evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to address functional loss during flare-ups.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disability. The examiner is asked to provide a new opinion addressing the onset and progression of the Veteran’s back disabilities during her service.

The Veteran's appeal for SMC higher than (m) plus (k) was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under section 1114(o). The Veteran has more than one disability rated at 100 percent, but does not have two or more separate and distinct disabilities that would qualify him for SMC rates listed in subsections (l) through (n).

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his low back disability prior to July 10, 2017 was granted with an effective date of the same day. The claim for a higher rating after that date and for TDIU were both denied.

The reduction of the rating for the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability from 20% to 10% was not proper and is restored. The claims for increased ratings for both the right knee and lumbar spine disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining missing documents and private treatment records. The Veteran is also asked to submit any additional medical evidence related to his sleep apnea disorder.

The Veteran's right foot metatarsalgia with degenerative arthritis is granted a 20% disability rating, effective November 19, 2014. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for back and left sciatic nerve radiculopathy.

The Veteran's initial claim for a 10 percent disability rating for his low back disability was granted effective February 12, 2007. The rating was increased to 40 percent from February 23, 2010.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the Veteran's reported disabilities and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's back disability was rated at 10 percent since December 23, 2002. The claim for an increased rating is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection of a back condition, left knee condition, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The new evidence received is sufficient to reopen these claims but does not establish service connection.