Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection. The Veteran asserts that his current spinal conditions are related to his military service, but VA medical opinions have not provided sufficient rationale.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathies of the left and right lower extremities were denied, with ratings assigned for each condition based on their severity.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and associated radiculopathy of the lower extremities are granted with effective dates ranging from August 3, 1999 to January 2, 2012. Effective August 3, 1999, a rating of 60% for sciatic neuropathy is granted. Separate ratings of 20% each for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities are granted since January 2, 2012.

The Board has granted service connection for arthralgia as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of his back disability has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes lasting at least six weeks in the past year, which are required for higher ratings under VA regulations. The appeal for TDIU is also remanded as the combined service-connected disability rating does not meet the threshold requirements for such a claim.

The Board has denied service connection for gouty arthritis, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, prostate disability, and urinary incontinence as these conditions are not shown to be related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further action on the issue of a rating in excess of 10% for chronic lumbar strain. The Veteran's service-connected conditions include left ankle fracture and chronic lumbar strain, with no indication of any service connection theory other than direct service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on all the listed issues, including amputated left small toe, low back disability, left hip disability to include convalescence, swelling below left ear/jaw, enlarged testicle, prostate disability and gynecomastia.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations, treatment records review, and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for additional special monthly compensation at the R-1 rate is denied because he does not meet the requirements for SMC m, n, o, or p.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his lumbar spine and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess current severity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine was not caused by service and did not manifest within the applicable presumptive period. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's multi-level DDD scoliosis with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent, which does not meet the criteria for an increased rating.,For paralysis of the left and right lower extremities associated with multi-level DDD scoliosis with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, the Veteran's ratings remain at 10 percent.

The Board has ordered remand for additional examinations and opinions due to the VA's failure to comply with its duty to assist in obtaining an adequate medical opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disability, degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the bilateral hips, and tinnitus. The decision is based on incomplete service treatment records and discrepancies in medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for chronic lumbosacral strain, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted since the May 2002 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU and permanent total disability rating was granted effective December 5, 2006. The Board found that the Veteran met the threshold percentage requirements for an award of TDIU as of December 5, 2006, and there is no reason to conclude that he could engage in substantially gainful employment at any point during the period from December 5, 2006, to July 31, 2008.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities and thoracolumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome with herniated disc prior to February 4, 2015 are denied. The Veteran's lumbar radiculopathy of the left lower extremity prior to February 4, 2015 is also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disorder, particularly concerning the nonunion of the posterior elements of L5.

The Board has denied service connection for back and neck disabilities, as well as IHD, squamous cell carcinoma, MSA, and autonomic neuropathy due to herbicide exposure. The claims are remanded for further development.