Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for residuals of bilateral tibial stress fractures has been reopened and granted.,Service connection was also granted for right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome and degenerative joint disease.

The Board denied service connection for low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities. The Veteran's PTSD was granted a rating of 70 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's back pain existed during service and was thus incurred coincident with service.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen claims for hypertension, residuals of a right wrist injury, and residuals of a left leg laceration was granted. Claims for low back disability and left knee disability were denied as new and material evidence did not relate the disabilities to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to incomplete records, need for further examinations, and other procedural issues. The claims will be adjudicated again after all requested information is obtained.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to lack of evidence demonstrating the presence or onset of the claimed conditions prior to February 16, 2016.,An effective date prior to February 16, 2016, was not granted as there is no indication that radiculopathy or a right knee disorder existed before this date.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral shoulder osteoarthritis, right clavicle disability, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, and right wrist CTS. Service connection for a neck injury and a bilateral leg disability is also granted.

The Board found that the reduction from 60 percent to 40 percent for lumbar spine IVDS was proper, effective June 1, 2015.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation prior to June 11, 2012 was denied as he did not have a single service-connected disability rated at 100 percent or permanently housebound due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation prior to June 11, 2012 was denied as he did not have a single service-connected disability rated at 100% and there is no evidence of housebound status due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted an increased rating of 40 percent for the period prior to March 15, 2017. For the period beginning March 15, 2017, a higher rating in excess of 40 percent is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of his service-connected low back disability, left leg radiculopathy, and right leg radiculopathy have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for a neck disability and neurological disabilities of the upper extremities.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for low back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to the need for further evidentiary development. The RO is instructed to obtain National Guard records, VA treatment records from South Texas Veterans Health Care System, and private treatment records from Dr. TAC.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for right knee, left knee, lumbar spine, and bilateral foot disabilities due to potential aggravation by other service-connected conditions.,Specifically, the Veteran's knee and foot disabilities are being reviewed again as they may be aggravated by his pre-existing knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is required for the claims of increased ratings for ventricular arrhythmia and valvular heart disease, lumbar strain and thoracic degenerative disc disease (DDD), and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran will need to undergo new VA examinations to determine their current levels of severity.

The Board has determined that additional development is required for the claims of increased ratings for ventricular arrhythmia and valvular heart disease, lumbar strain and thoracic degenerative disc disease (DDD), and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The Veteran will need to undergo new VA examinations to determine their current levels of severity.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity were denied. The Board found that her symptoms did not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate examination reports and other procedural issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder and lumbar spine disability, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 19, 2011. The effective date for the award of TDIU is set at December 19, 2011.