Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Service connection is remanded for a low back condition.

Service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease with radiculopathy is granted. The effective date for the grant of service connection for cervical strain is denied and set at July 12, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the low back has been reopened, while his claims for left knee sepsis and bilateral hand disorder have been remanded. The effective date for a 50% rating for limited extension of the left knee remains unresolved.

The Board denied service connection for back disorder (claimed as arthritis), eye disorder, hearing loss, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disorder, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's low back strain with sciatic pain is rated at 20% effective January 29, 2015. A separate 20% rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted since November 6, 2013.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back, bilateral knee, and left great toe disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is rated at 10 percent prior to August 13, 2012 and 20 percent thereafter. His lumbar strain (low back disability) does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. A 10 percent rating has been granted for right knee instability since October 22, 2002. The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome is rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied claims for service connection for arthritis of the right knee and a bilateral leg condition to include loss of feeling, tingling, and numbness associated with DDD of the thoracic spine. The claim for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for service-connected DDD of the thoracic spine was also denied.

The Veteran's DDD with radiculopathy was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and the Board finds no causal relationship between his current condition and service.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes within one year of separation from active duty.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD and remanded the issues of increased ratings for lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease and TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for dizziness and headaches due to potential issues with evidence or development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability is denied as there are no incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome and the evidence does not show unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of low back pain, bilateral hearing loss, and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and an earlier effective date for the increased evaluation of his lumbar spine disability are being remanded due to procedural issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluations of his disabilities due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for left elbow, right elbow, back, left knee, and right knee disabilities. Service connection is also remanded for a psychiatric disability (to include PTSD).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is at least as likely as not related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his service connection claim for a cervical spine disability is granted. The Board also remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension, lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted effective from May 26, 2011. The TDIU was initially denied in March 2009 due to failure to report for VA examination and later reconsidered in April 2013 when the Veteran reported for a VA examination showing he could not work due to his service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities.