Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's post-traumatic degenerative arthropathy of the thoracic spine is granted a 10 percent rating for the period prior to July 8, 2015. For the period beginning July 8, 2015, his disability remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar strain. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine if his current lower back pain is related to service.

The Veteran's rating for degeneration of the lumbar intervertebral discs was reduced from 60 to 20 percent, but this reduction was improper due to lack of actual improvement in his disability level. The court ordered restoration of the prior 60 percent rating.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar strain as the evidence did not support a finding that it had its onset in active service or was otherwise related to active service.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease and bilateral hearing loss disability, finding that the evidence did not support a causal link to service.,There was no credible evidence linking the current conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current low back disability is related to her service. The VA needs to obtain a new opinion from an examiner.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a sleep disorder, as well as his increased rating claims for low back and bilateral knee disabilities. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling new examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and other benefits due to inadequate examinations, in particular regarding his lumbosacral strain and associated radiculopathy. The case is also remanded for further development related to TDIU, specially adapted housing, special home adaptation grant, and helpless child benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder, diagnosed as lumbar segmental dysfunction with radiculopathy and neuropathy. The appeal is pending on remand regarding the Veteran's left heel disorder.,Service connection was denied for bilateral pes planus due to lack of evidence showing permanent aggravation by service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for lumbar strain due to new evidence. The Veteran's current diagnosis is degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease, which she contends is related to a 2003 vehicular accident during service. However, the VA examiner found no reliable evidence linking her current disability to service. The Board denied the claim of service connection for lumbar strain. For the migraine cephalgia issue, the Veteran's increased rating claim was remanded due to inadequate examination report.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for lateral collateral ligament sprain of the left ankle is denied. An initial 40 percent evaluation has been granted for lumbosacral spine spondylosis.,Issues regarding service connection for right shoulder, right ankle, and left foot disorders are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and right leg numbness, as these issues are intertwined. The Veteran's back disabilities need to be evaluated with an addendum opinion that discusses their onset during active service or their relation to any in-service disease, event, or injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lower back disorder, left wrist CTS, and right wrist CTS. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a nexus between the current disabilities and active service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder, left knee, and low back disabilities. The diagnoses include lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis, patellofemoral syndrome and strain in the left knee, and supraspinatus tendinosis and posterior labral tear in the left shoulder.

The Veteran's claims for low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities have been reopened. The appeal is granted to this extent only.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary due to the Veteran's assertions of current bilateral ear, gynecological and hearing loss disabilities incurred during active duty.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a left knee disability, an increased evaluation for unspecified depressive disorder, and TDIU prior to September 1, 2016 have been dismissed. The case is remanded for further development regarding the left knee disability.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran’s low back disability has been characterized by forward flexion limited to 35 degrees and radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities (sciatica).

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current low back disorder and her service, including a possible injury in 1986. The VA needs to conduct an examination and provide an opinion on this issue.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disorder was reopened and granted, with an initial disability rating of 70 percent effective October 25, 2017.,The Veteran is also granted TDIU on a schedular basis due to her service-connected disabilities.