Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD claim has been withdrawn.,Prior to January 15, 2015, the low back disability warranted a rating of 10 percent. From January 15, 2015 to December 16, 2015, it warranted a rating of 20 percent. Since then, it has not met the criteria for a higher rating.,Since January 15, 2015, the right lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy has been rated at 20 percent.,Bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,Hypertension has not met the criteria for a higher rating.,Residual scars from basal cell epithelioma have warranted a 30 percent rating since March 6, 2013.,The Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and prostate cancer. The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, right wrist condition, bilateral arm condition, and bilateral leg condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to his death, and concluded that his PTSD did not substantially or materially contribute to his death. The Board also noted that there was no evidence of suicide attempts related to PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The lumbar spine disability was rated at 40 percent, with a separate rating of 60 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is etiologically related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for a low back disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lower back disability, post-operative laminectomy residuals was denied. The claim for service connection for colon cancer as secondary to kidney disorder is not supported by the evidence of record.

The Veteran's cervical spondylosis and degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine are rated at 20 percent each, meeting the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The TDIU issue is remanded to the AOJ.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is related to his in-service back injury, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for the consideration of additional medical evidence not previously reviewed by the RO.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for additional development to determine if his back disability is related to service or secondary to his service-connected left ankle condition.

The appeal is being remanded for additional development due to recent changes in the evidence. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after this new information.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed lumbar degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease with stenosis is not related to service or a service-connected disability, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's upper and lower back disabilities are related to service, granting service connection for these conditions.,An initial rating of 10 percent is granted for hemorrhoids prior to September 26, 2014, and an increased rating of 20 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's back disability was rated at 20% from June 25, 2004 to July 7, 2009 and in excess of 20% thereafter. The TDIU claim was granted prior to July 23, 2015.

The Veteran withdrew from appellate consideration the issues on appeal, including the increased rating claim for degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, and the service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea, glaucoma, bilateral gynecomastia, status post subcutaneous mastectomy, left and right knee disorders, left and right shoulder disorders, a cervical spine disorder, and rheumatoid arthritis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic lumbosacral myositis, finding that his disability did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 4, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination and obtaining private treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability did not arise during service and is not related to any injury or event in service. As such, the claim for service connection for a back disability is denied.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for the Veteran's spondylosis of the thoracolumbar spine, and thus denied the claim.