Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal was denied for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his lumbar spine disability prior to February 3, 2014.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by or materially contributed to by his service-connected disabilities, and denied both the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and the claim for death pension benefits due to insufficient income.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the feet and a low back disability, finding that his conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service. The TDIU claim was also denied as there is no evidence showing that the Veteran's disabilities prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied, as well as his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for trigger finger of the left hand.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorder and TDIU due to his service-connected low back disability. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection for the bilateral knee disorder, as there was no in-service injury or disease related to this condition. The examiner opined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder is not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected low back disability. The Board also found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for TDIU based on his combined rating of 50%.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination to determine the etiology of the claimed neck disability and whether it is proximately due or permanently aggravated by service-connected low back and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for service-connected hypertension and TDIU are denied. The claims for higher ratings for service-connected lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder, left shoulder, cerebrovascular accident (stroke), myocardial infarction (cardiac arrest), lumbar spine injury, and degenerative joint disease of cervical and thoracic spine are not related to service or any incident thereof. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with depression and alcoholism is considered as the primary cause for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a left hip disability and his low back disability is not service-connected. The Board finds that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claim for service connection for either condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the current severity of his right knee and femur disabilities, as well as service connection for a back disability. Additional medical records are needed from VA facilities in West Los Angeles and Long Beach.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to August 31, 2017 is being remanded due to the need to submit the case to VA's Director of Compensation for extra-schedular consideration under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Veteran's back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were evaluated, but the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes have not been met.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee, cervical spine, and lumbar spine disabilities did not have onset during service or are otherwise related to service. The right knee disability is considered a form of arthritis and thus is covered by presumptive service connection provisions for chronic diseases.

The Veteran's disability rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied as his combined range of motion did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, and he did not have ankylosis. The Veteran had decreased forward flexion at his August 2016 VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for DDD of the lumbar spine, status post fracture of the nose with septorhinoplasty, and neuropathy of the left lower extremity have all been denied by the Board.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his PTSD service connection is granted, and the appeal for service connection of lumbar spine disabilities as secondary to left knee disability is also granted. The Board finds that new evidence received raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left leg and knee disorders, left hip osteoarthritis, right hip disorder, and low back condition. The claims were either not reopened or found to lack new and material evidence.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral and right knee disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a link between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient reasoning in a previous VA examination and uncertainty about whether the Veteran's current back condition is related to his military service. The case will be reconsidered with new evidence.