Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's original claim of service connection for a back disability must be readjudicated de novo considering additional service records received in April 1999. The left foot and vertigo claims are also remanded for further development.

The Veteran's lumbar spine osteoarthritis is rated at 40 percent effective September 14, 2017. Ratings for left and right lower extremity numbness and weakness remain denied.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for a back disability and TDIU were denied due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's right wrist and low back disabilities are granted service connection. The right shoulder disability is granted an increased rating to 20 percent, but the scar associated with it remains noncompensable.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the cervical spine was not shown to be related to his military service, and it is determined that this condition is not secondary to his service-connected low back disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection for DDD of the cervical spine is denied.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal for all issues currently before the Board.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine condition and associated radiculopathies have not met the criteria for a higher disability rating during the appeals period.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for cervical spine disability was denied as the evidence did not show limitation of motion or ankylosis that would warrant a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also denied because he failed to complete and return the VA Form 21-8940, which is required to substantiate his unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a right wrist disorder, lumbar spine disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder as the evidence did not show these conditions were incurred in or related to active service.

The Veteran's low back condition, rated as 20 percent disabling prior to August 18, 2010, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of forward flexion or ankylosis.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability and left knee disability, as both conditions are not shown to have been incurred or aggravated during his active military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Board denied service connection for low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities. The Veteran's claim for headaches was granted as the evidence is in equipoise.

The Board denied service connection for thoracic kyphosis, thoracic scoliosis, lumbar lordosis, and lumbar scoliosis to the left as these conditions were noted at entry into service. The Veteran's pre-existing back disorders did not increase in severity during his military service. Service connection was also denied for psoriasis due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board is remanding the claims for service connection and initial ratings for various conditions due to additional VA outpatient medical records being added to the file since the last adjudications in March 2015. These records are pertinent to all issues on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for gout of the left foot, an initial compensable rating for hypertension, and a compensable initial rating for residual scar, lumbar microdiskectomy. The appeal was remanded for additional development regarding the Veteran's claim for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted a 40 percent rating effective January 3, 2018. The condition is currently rated as 40 percent disabling.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, lumbar spine, right hip, and right hand disabilities due to insufficient development. The claims are also being remanded for clarification on whether the Veteran's headaches are secondary to his service-connected GERD.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for hypertension and granted service connection for a low back disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), but remanded the claims for service connection for neck disability and secondary service connection for hypertension.