Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating for her low back condition or radiculopathy, except for a separate 10 percent rating granted for right lower extremity radiculopathy from August 31, 2010 to March 10, 2014.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected, and he is entitled to a rating in excess of 20 percent for his lumbar spine disability from May 12, 2012.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The claim to reopen the hypertension was not successful, while the other issues remained unresolved.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar degenerative disc disease and left hip arthritis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, left hip disability, and left foot disability, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board found that the criteria for a TDIU were met.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and addressing the issues of increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability was not present until many years after service and is not related to service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for left ulnar neuropathy and mild degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine, L5-S1 was denied. The TDIU claim is also denied as it is inextricably intertwined with the other claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claims for a low back disorder, left leg radiculopathy/sciatica, and left foot drop are granted. The case is also remanded to obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether his service-connected disabilities may have caused or aggravated his diagnosed left hip and left knee arthritis.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and an examination, as the current opinions are inadequate due to failure to consider the Veteran's lay assertions of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for a lung condition to include pleuritic lung disorder, asthma, and chest pain and trauma. The Veteran's thoracolumbar back disorder is also denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that could be related to any of the claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's low back injury with lumbosacral degenerative disc and joint diseases is currently rated at 20 percent, effective April 17, 2001. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on functional loss due to pain or other factors.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for erosive gastropathy has been granted, with a current evaluation of 40 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total rating based on the need for convalescence following surgery due to her service-connected back disability is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic lumbosacral strain with mild degenerative arthritis L5/S1 is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his back disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining VA treatment records and personnel records to verify his reported service in Vietnam. The Veteran will be provided with a Supplemental Statement of the Case if the benefits sought remain denied.

The Veteran's request for a Board hearing has been scheduled, but the notices were sent to an incorrect address. The case is being remanded to schedule the Veteran for a videoconference hearing at his latest address.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a video conference hearing. The Veteran's claims to reopen service connection for low back disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) are pending.

The Board found that arthritis and degenerative disc disease were not incurred in or aggravated during service, and are not attributable to service. The Veteran's claims for these conditions have been denied.