Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his degenerative disc disease, anxiety disorder, hiatal hernia, migraine headaches, radiculopathy (left and right lower extremities), and eczema, render him unemployable. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined effect of these conditions.

The Board has granted the reopening of the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability, heart disability, hypertension, and forehead scar. The cases are remanded to schedule VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected lower back and right knee disabilities due to incomplete development, including missing VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current conditions did not pre-exist service or were aggravated by service. The evidence showed no in-service noise exposure leading to hearing loss.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been granted, with a rating of 40 percent and no higher for lumbar radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities. The claim for increased rating for lumbar myositis has also been granted, but at a lower rating (40 percent).

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and left leg radiculopathy are both rated at 10 percent each, with no higher ratings granted. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for his back condition prior to November 10, 2015, or from November 10, 2015 onwards. A separate rating of 10 percent was assigned for left leg radiculopathy as of March 10, 2010.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a cervical spine condition, and a back disability due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran indicating his disabilities are related to his service in the Persian Gulf. The VA will verify the Veteran's service locations and obtain any missing VA treatment records. They will also provide appropriate notice regarding the claims of service connection for undiagnosed illnesses.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease is rated at 20% from January 1, 2006 to August 29, 2006 and from October 1, 2006 to August 25, 2008. A separate 10% rating for a laminectomy scar is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back strain, right hip piriformis syndrome, and left hip piriformis syndrome due to new evidence of increased disability. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it may be significantly impacted by the outcome of these issues.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for his low back disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative changes of the thoracolumbar spine, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and DJD, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and DJD. Service connection was denied for bilateral myopia, hypercholesterolemia, and residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral shoulder, elbow, cervical myositis with chronic pain, lumbar spine, carpal tunnel syndrome, and lower extremity radiculopathy. The evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease that caused these conditions.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the severity of the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disorder and associated neurological impairments, including IVDS and radiculopathy. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The case is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected back disability and associated symptoms, including peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. Separate ratings are also required for the right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical and lumbar spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, neck disability, bilateral knee disability, residuals of TBI, and colon cancer as the evidence did not support a link to service.

The Veteran's back disorder caused significant degenerative changes, radiculopathy, and antalgic gait. The rating of 40 percent for mechanical low back pain is granted since October 5, 2011.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, cervical spine disability, and hepatitis C due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his right foot hammer toes, left foot hammer toes, and back disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher initial ratings for these conditions.