Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for limitation of flexion of the bilateral knees and back strain. The Veteran's sleep apnea and tinnitus have not been established as related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for throat cancer, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back disability, skin cancer, and an acquired psychiatric condition (PTSD) have been granted. The decision also addressed the reopening of these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran with appropriate VA examinations to determine the severity of his service-connected scar disability, as well as the nature and etiology of any claimed back disability and TBI.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic lumbar spine disability due to lack of evidence of current disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder impingement syndrome, a back disability, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ankle and knee disorders as well as a lower back disorder are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and provide an updated opinion from the VA examiner.

The Veteran does not have a current right ear hearing loss disability for VA purposes.,There is no evidence of a current left knee disability in the record.

The Veteran's degenerative changes of the lumbar spine with spondylolisthesis and fusion, L4 to S1 are currently rated at 40 percent since July 12, 2016. The appeal is denied as there is no evidence that warrants a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, and his radiculopathy of the left lower extremity does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine was granted a 10 percent rating prior to February 11, 2004 and a 40 percent rating beginning on that date.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy associated with DDD was granted an initial 10 percent rating from February 2, 1994 to August 14, 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disorder, back disorder, right knee disorder, and bilateral lower extremities disability. The decision is based on a finding that these conditions are not related to active military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The left knee disability was rated at 10 percent, the neck disorder and back disorder were not related to service or a service-connected condition, the right shoulder disorder and left hip disorder were also not related to service or a service-connected condition, and the umbilical hernia was not listed among diseases for which presumptive service connection applies. The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his combined disability rating did not meet the threshold for entitlement.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that she is entitled to TDIU from February 2, 2017.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including examinations to assess his spine, skin, and knee conditions. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current headaches, back and neck disabilities, hypertension, and abdominal disability are not service-connected as they are either not related to his military service or were pre-existing conditions exacerbated by service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and bilateral leg disorder, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease connected to these conditions.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is found to be service-connected, and the lumbar spine DDD with sciatic radiculopathy is not considered caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine strain.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent prior to January 28, 2015 and 50 percent thereafter. The lumbosacral strain is rated at 10 percent prior to February 2, 2015.,PTSD: The Veteran has occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity but not occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas. Lumbosacral Strain: The Veteran does not have forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine limited to 30 degrees or less.