Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's arthritis of the lumbar spine is currently rated as noncompensable under Diagnostic Code 5242. The VA examiner found no limitation in range of motion, muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in abnormal gait or spinal contour. Therefore, a compensable rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's left lower radiculopathy (sciatic) associated with degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent since October 14, 2011. The effective date for this rating remains to be determined.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disabilities are not related to his military service and have denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent, effective October 1, 2011. The claim for a higher rating remains denied.,Prior to September 11, 2015, the Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy was rated at 10 percent, effective March 10, 2011. The claim for a higher rating remains denied.,Prior to September 11, 2015, the Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy was rated at 10 percent, effective March 10, 2011. The claim for a higher rating remains denied.,From September 11, 2015, the Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 40 percent, effective September 11, 2015. The claim for a higher rating is granted.,From September 11, 2015, the Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 40 percent, effective September 11, 2015. The claim for a higher rating is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to care for daily personal needs without regular assistance from others or to protect himself from the hazards of his daily environment.

The Veteran's low back disability was found to not meet the criteria for a higher rating from August 16, 2008 to September 18, 2010. After September 18, 2010, his disability did not result in unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or incapacitating episodes warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher than 20 percent rating for his lumbosacral strain with minimal degenerative changes, L4-5, or for a higher than 10 percent rating for his chronic left L5-S1 radiculopathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied service connection. The mood disorder claim is remanded due to a potential issue with the timeliness of the substantive appeal.

The Veteran's lumbosacral DJD was found to have a combined range of motion of 220 degrees, with forward flexion limited to 70 degrees. The current disability rating of 10 percent is maintained prior to February 11, 2011 and the current rating of 20 percent thereafter.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine disorder, including degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease, can be attributed to his military service. The decision is in favor of granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA spine examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and denied compensable ratings for depression and gastritis and duodenitis from March 8, 2000.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lower back disability to include spinal stenosis was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and arthritis may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for thoracolumbar hyperextension strain was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his mechanical low back pain was denied, and the Board found that he is not unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability is pending. The effective date of the grant of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been set at February 22, 2010, with a rating of 30% from that date and increased to 50% in July 2017. The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent remains pending.

The Veteran's lower back and right knee disabilities have been granted increased ratings, with the lower back disability receiving a 20% rating since July 26, 2008.

The Board found that the Veteran's lower back disability did not manifest within one year of his entry into service and is not otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disability. The claim is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional service treatment records and for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed disabilities.