Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board found that the earliest date for an effective date of a 40% rating for the Veteran's service-connected low back disability was September 30, 2014. The claimant argued that his symptoms were as severe in 2008 as they were when he received a 40% rating in April 2013, but medical evidence showed that his functional loss worsened after September 30, 2014.

The Veteran is currently rated at 20 percent for his degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, effective March 2, 2017. He is also rated separately at 20 percent each for radiculopathy in both lower extremities since that date.,Prior to March 2, 2017, the Veteran's panic disorder was rated as 50 percent disabling.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to lack of proper notification of scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of chronicity or continuity of symptoms since service, and thus could not grant service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, including degenerative changes and recurrent mechanical back pain syndrome, based on the Veteran's credible reports of an in-service lumbar spine injury and lower back symptomatology since service separation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, low back disability as secondary to service-connected disabilities, and arthritis of the right thumb/hand as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, right knee arthritis, and lumbar disc bulging and arthritis of the lumbar spine are all found to have onset during service. The Veteran is granted a rating of at least 10 percent for his left heel fasciitis.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of headaches and that there is no evidence linking his headaches to service or any service-connected disabilities. The claims for back, bilateral ankle, and bilateral knee conditions are also denied as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for traumatic brain injury and bilateral eye irritation and blurred vision have been withdrawn. The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for low back strain status post hemilaminectomy, the appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease, cervical spine (cervical spine disability), and the appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee osteoarthropathy have been dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions, including PTSD and prostate disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his thoracolumbar spine disability is denied as the evidence does not show that he meets or nearly meets the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to a Board decision, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for reopening his low back disability was granted, and he is now entitled to service connection for the condition as secondary to a service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as service connection for a lumbar spine disability. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for his right ankle disability are being remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability and remanded it for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of his current lumbar spine disability.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for a low back disability and skin disability of the nose due to additional development being required, including VA examinations.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is related to service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability. The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining relevant VA and private treatment records, attempting to obtain records from the Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC), scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination, and readjudicating the claim.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial disability rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was granted, with an effective date from November 6, 2016. The Veteran received a compensable (20%) initial disability rating for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed back disorder and knee disability.