Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with major depression and panic disorder with agoraphobia, degenerative disc disease and spondylosis in lower cervical spine, arthritis right foot (status post crush injury and reconstructive surgery to right great toe), and degenerative joint disease, right knee, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for bilateral knee arthritis, neck arthritis, and lumbar disc disease. The Board has determined that additional development is needed as the current VA examination did not adequately address the relationship between his service-connected left ankle disability and these conditions.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for shoulder, back, and neck disabilities but finds that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated during military service.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The Board has determined that further development, including a new VA examination, is necessary to properly adjudicate his claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination for back disability and unclear diagnosis of heart disorder. The Veteran is scheduled for a VA examination to address these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including DDD of the lumbosacral spine and coronary artery disease, preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's low back disability was found to be incurred in service, and the Board granted service connection for degenerative disease of the lumbar spine. The issue of bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and SSA disability benefits file. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated after this is completed.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than June 25, 2010 for the assignment of a 10 percent rating for service-connected external hemorrhoids is denied.,For hearing loss in the right ear prior to April 28, 2016 and a rating in excess of 70 percent for bilateral hearing loss thereafter, the Veteran's claim is denied. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating or a rating in excess of 70 percent during the appeal period.,For lumbar spine disability, the Veteran's claim is denied as his service-connected lumbar spine disability has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent at any time during the appeal period. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for an increased rating due to IVDS with incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 4 weeks during the past 12 months, forward flexion of the lumbar spine limited to 30 degrees, ankylosis, or neurologic abnormalities (other than radiculopathy of the lower extremities).,For right leg sciatica and left leg radiculopathy, the Veteran's claim is denied as his service-connected disabilities have not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent at any time during the appeal period. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for an increased rating due to at least moderately severe incomplete paralysis.,The Veteran's claims for residuals of a stroke, right shoulder disorder, and prostate disorder are addressed separately.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed lumbar spine disorder or residuals of a partial right parotidectomy, and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for back disability, heart condition (hypertension), diabetes type II, and Parkinsonism. The Veteran's private physician provided opinions linking these conditions to his military service. However, dyslipidemia is not a qualifying disability for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a back condition requires additional development, including an examination and etiology opinion.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating and earlier effective date for her lumbar spine disability have been denied. The Board also found that she does not have a current diagnosis of a bilateral lower extremity disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing medical opinions regarding the service connection claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's low back disorder and sciatica are found to be related to service, while his right knee disorder is not. Service connection for the low back and sciatic nerve disorders is granted, but service connection for the right knee disorder is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of lumbar spine, right knee, or left knee disability and therefore cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's musculoligamentous strain of the thoracolumbar spine with multilevel degenerative arthritis was evaluated at a 10 percent rating from August 1, 2010 to December 14, 2015.