Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the right shoulder, residuals of status post left shoulder arthroscopy, and cervical spondylosis. The Veteran's lumbar spondylosis with L3-4 and L4-5 stenosis is also considered as having been incurred in service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a low back pain disorder due to new and material evidence. However, the case is remanded as further medical examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current low back pain disorder is related to his service-connected bilateral patella femoral syndrome.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for ankylosis and bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn.,Service connection for periodontal disease (for compensation purposes) is denied as it cannot be considered a compensable disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were not granted, but some issues were reopened. The low back condition and nerve damage to the left arm remain denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. Service connection for PTSD was reopened based on new evidence, while diabetes mellitus type 2 was denied as there is no record of its onset during service or within one year after separation.

Service connection is granted for tinnitus. Service connection is remanded for a back condition.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc and joint disease, posttraumatic stress disorder, and major depressive disorders were all granted initial ratings. The lumbar condition received a 60% rating, the PTSD and depression conditions prior to May 17, 2004 also received a 60% rating, and the total disability evaluation due to individual unemployability was granted for that period.

The Board has decided that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as his special monthly compensation and TDIU claims. The case is being remanded to obtain relevant VA treatment records and conduct medical examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder began during service and is related to a lifting injury, thus granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee condition. The claims for back disability and left ankle condition are remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the right hip and degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the thoracolumbar spine, both claimed as secondary to knee disabilities. The Veteran's right knee disability was already service-connected.,For a scar on the right knee, the Veteran received a 10 percent evaluation initially in May 2012.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including new VA examinations.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, degenerative arthritis, and degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine are caused by his service-connected right knee instability and degenerative arthritis.,There is at least a reasonable doubt as to whether the Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis is caused by his service-connected right knee instability and degenerative arthritis. The evidence is approximately evenly balanced on this issue.,The Veteran's left carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by his service-connected right carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a claim based on an undiagnosed Gulf War illness and that the Veteran's current diagnosed conditions are attributable to known clinical diagnoses.,Service connection was also denied for a right knee condition, as there is no in-service injury or disease linked to the current condition. The Board found that the right knee condition is not proximately due to, or aggravated by, service-connected left knee disability and/or low back disorder.,Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was granted based on evidence showing it began during service.,Service connection for Barrett’s esophagus was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis that can be linked to service.,Prostate cancer was denied as the Veteran's condition did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

The Veteran's lumbar spine sprain is currently rated at 10 percent disabling. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating due to insufficient functional limitations despite complaints of back pain and flare-ups.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraines and other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to Total Disability Rating for Compensation Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's right hip osteomalacia and lumbar spine disability were rated based on their respective limitations of motion. The Veteran was granted a higher rating for her lumbar spine disability from June 28, 2013.,However, the Veteran is still seeking an increased rating for her right hip osteomalacia prior to August 25, 2015 and for her lumbar spine disability since August 25, 2015.

The Veteran's lower back condition was previously rated at 10 percent, but the VA examiner found that there were no incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) symptomatology in the preceding 12 months. The Veteran claims his symptoms have worsened since the last examination and he believes the previous evaluation was misleading. A new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of his lower back condition, including range of motion testing and an assessment of incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including back disability, lung disability, CFS, sleep apnea, hypertension, IBS, and migraine headaches, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain and depressive disorder, as well as her increased rating claim for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome. These issues will be addressed in a future examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a dental disability, back disorder, and increased ratings for PTSD, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right lower extremity neuropathy. The effective dates for benefits were also determined to be incorrect or not applicable.