Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to assess whether the Veteran’s low back condition is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities of his lower extremities.

The Veteran's lumbar strain is rated at 20 percent, effective July 10, 2017. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is rated at 10 percent from August 26, 2005.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative joint disease is rated at 40 percent, but no higher, throughout the appeal period.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a middle and lower back disorder, finding that new evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim. The Board also found that the Veteran is not credible regarding his in-service injury and that his current condition resulted from willful misconduct.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding the rating of his lumbosacral strain and total knee replacement.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for left hernia repair is dismissed. The Board has granted TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The appeals for increased ratings for lumbosacral spine, right knee, and left knee conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. Service connection is remanded for shrapnel wound residuals, skin disability (including as due to herbicide exposure in service), and peripheral artery disease (including as due to herbicide exposure in service).

The Veteran's bilateral trapezius strain and cervical spine disability are granted. The Veteran is also granted a 20% rating for his neck disability, but the effective date of this decision has not been determined.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The back condition, bilateral foot condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and PTSD) are all under review.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal for all conditions.

The Board has dismissed all appeals for service connection, except for the claim of an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder). The Veteran's current psychiatric conditions are associated with his active duty service in Korea.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU rating, and his claim is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right lateral/medial epicondylitis and hyperlipidemia was denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of these conditions.,Service connection for PTSD, thoracolumbar spine IVDS and degenerative arthritis, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, left ankle sprain, cervical spine strain, right shoulder sprain, right shin splints, left shin splints, hemorrhoids, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome was denied. The Veteran's PTSD disability rating prior to September 27, 2012 was also denied.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability was granted a 40 percent rating effective April 18, 2017. His left and right lower extremity radiculopathy were each granted separate 10 percent ratings effective the same date.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent effective August 17, 2017. TDIU benefits are granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluations of various disabilities, as well as his claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD. The case is being returned to the RO for additional development.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss due to the Veteran's withdrawal. The TDIU claim for the period prior to September 30, 2015 was denied as the Veteran’s service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following any substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's low back disorder and his service-connected left ankle sprain. The Veteran needs further examination to clarify these issues.