Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea. The issues of an increased rating for lumbar strain and sciatic nerve radiculopathy, as well as TDIU, are pending.

The Veteran's PTSD is due to military sexual trauma experienced during her service, and the Board finds that service connection for PTSD has been met.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, to include degenerative disc disease, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to active or Reserve service.

The Veteran's upper back strain and lumbar facet arthrosis are rated at 20 percent each, effective May 2, 2015. The right knee disorder is rated noncompensable based on painful motion.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbosacral strain and degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbosacral region with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) did not manifest during service or within one year after separation, and are not etiologically related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disorder and a rating in excess of 20 percent for his back disability. The claim for TDIU prior to October 23, 2014 was also denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hypertension and diabetes mellitus are related to service, with hypertension being secondary to his service-connected high blood pressure. The cervical spine disorder is also found to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is not caused by or a result of his military service and does not have a direct relationship to his service-connected left knee disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected low back disability was denied as the evidence did not show that he met the criteria for a higher rating under the General Formula or based on incapacitating episodes of disc disease.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his lumbar spine degenerative joint disease was granted, with the effective date set at October 1, 2013.,Effective April 1, 2004, service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy associated with his lumbar spine degenerative joint disease was established.

The Board found that the Veteran's current cervical spine, right shoulder, and right elbow disabilities were not incurred in service. The symptoms of degenerative arthritis were not chronic in service or manifested within one year of separation.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for sciatic nerve dysfunction of the left and right lower extremities, as well as his low back disability, have been withdrawn. The Board has no further jurisdiction to consider these matters.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a low back disorder due to favorable decisions on other granted issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board denied service connection for hip and low back disorders, finding that the current conditions were not caused by or related to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine DDD was denied. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy, secondary to service-connected lumbar spine DDD, was also denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 2, 2012 for the award of a separate 10 percent rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and hearing loss, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these conditions. The claim for tinnitus was also denied as there is no higher rating available under VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of his claims, particularly regarding his gastrointestinal disorder, allergic rhinitis, and thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability and finds that it is related to an in-service motor vehicle accident, granting service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability, which may be related to service. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.