Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral shoulder disability, arm and wrist disability, neck disability, back disability, leg disability (including varicose veins and blood clots), lung disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, anxiety, memory loss, sleep disorder), and hip disability. The Board found the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability on the basis that new and material evidence had not been presented to support the claim, as the Veteran's assertions of secondary service connection were not supported by medical evidence.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities prior to October 14, 2015.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for his right knee disability, service connection for various conditions, and entitlement to TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or service connection in all cases.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination and nexus opinion to address the Veteran's testimony of low back symptoms since service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is not service-connected as secondary to his service-connected stress fracture right tibia. The hip disability was also found not to be service-connected due to lack of evidence showing it was aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the appeal due to incomplete or unclear opinions from previous examiners and requests for additional evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a new VA examination to assess the severity of his lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left shoulder disability did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise the result of a disease or injury incurred in service. The claim for service connection for a low back disability was previously remanded, but no additional development has been completed related to this issue.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder was not incurred or aggravated by service, and specifically during his third period of active duty from March 2008 to March 2009. The Board concluded that the preexisting condition worsened due to natural progression.

The Board finds that the Veteran's degenerative disc syndrome and arthritis of lumbar spine originated in service, with symptoms dating back to his military service. The evidence supports a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 40 percent, effective July 29, 2017. The rating reflects severe limitation of motion without unfavorable ankylosis or episodes requiring bed rest.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is not service-connected, and there is no evidence to support a claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to the December 2000 surgery.

The Board found that the Veteran's insomnia is not related to his military service.,There is no evidence linking any of the other claimed disabilities (arthritis, cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, bilateral eye disorder, coronary disorder, and gastrointestinal disorder) to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his sciatic neuropathy with lumbar spondylosis and spondylolisthesis, finding that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 40 percent. The claim for increased rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy was remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection and TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection or entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities did not manifest in service or are unrelated to service. The claims for higher ratings for his shoulder, hip, and toe disabilities have also been denied.

The Board has determined that the claims for increased ratings and service connection are inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim. Therefore, the TDIU claim is not yet ripe for appellate review and must be deferred pending readjudication of the other remanded claims.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of increased ratings and service connection due to the lack of recent VA examinations and incomplete medical records. The Veteran's left wrist sprain will be remanded for a new examination, while his lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities will have their ratings reconsidered.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lower back disorder and residuals of traumatic brain injury have been reopened, and the Board has granted these claims. The VA will conduct further examinations to determine if there is a link between the conditions and military service.