Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims were initially adjudicated as non-service-connected pension benefits, but he clearly indicated his intention to pursue service connection. The Board finds a remand necessary for proper development and consideration of the service connection claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back condition had its onset during his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back condition and residuals of TBI including vertigo due to new evidence provided by the Veteran. Additional VA examinations are needed, as well as obtaining relevant medical records.

The Board denied service connection for psychiatric disorders, hypertension, gastrointestinal disabilities, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a direct relationship to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, right knee, left knee, and headaches are all related to his service-connected right ankle disability.,However, the VA examiners found that these conditions were not proximately due or a result of his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine and thoracic spondylosis disabilities are not related to service, as there is no evidence of any back injuries during service. The examiner opined that the onset of these conditions was more likely due to age and smoking.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar facet arthropathy with mild spondylosis, effective from September 19, 2012. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for coronary artery disease (CAD) is also granted. A 10 percent disability rating for hypertension is assigned and effective as of August 31, 2011.

The Board has denied the reopening of claims for service connection for various conditions, including low back disability, bilateral foot disability, shoulder disability, hip disability, knee disability, sciatic radiculopathy, and acquired psychiatric/mental disabilities. The July 1997 decision remains final regarding the low back disability claim.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for low back and neck disabilities, but denied reopening of the claim for service connection for a neck disability.

The rating reduction from 60 percent to 20 percent for chronic lumbar intervertebral disk syndrome (IVDS) effective October 1, 2011 was improper. The 60 percent rating is restored.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with sciatica is found to have started during her military service and has been granted service connection.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for low back and bilateral hip disorders, finding new and material evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims on a secondary basis.,The Veteran is now eligible for TDIU due to his service-connected right and left knee disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that new examinations are necessary to evaluate the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected left shoulder strain, thoracolumbar spine strain, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome due to potential changes in their severity since the last examination. The Veteran's migraine headaches have also been remanded for a VA examination.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent effective March 17, 2014. Service connection for a left lower extremity disability is granted from September 29, 2011.

The Veteran's initial claim for increased ratings for degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine was denied, with a rating of 20% prior to June 5, 2018, and 40% thereafter. The Veteran also received an initial 20% rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity prior to June 5, 2018, but was denied a higher rating after that date.,The Board found no basis for increased ratings for either condition.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on range of motion, as pain alone does not constitute functional loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions and their relationship to service. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a heart condition, low back condition, disability manifested by pain of the lower extremities (claimed as joint pain), and skin condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and remanded the issues of bilateral hip and knee disabilities, as well as TDIU. The decision on TDIU is pending due to its interdependence with other matters.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance was denied as entitlement to this benefit did not arise prior to March 11, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of various hip and leg disabilities, as well as an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD. The appeal is dismissed.