Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a chest injury, chronic cervical spine pain with limitation of motion from April 11, 2007, and thoracolumbar spine pain with limitation of motion from April 11, 2007 are currently rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations. The Board finds no basis to grant higher ratings for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including a new VA medical examination and an inquiry into Social Security Administration records. The issues of service connection for left knee disability and right knee disability are also on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back and hip disabilities, as well as his sinusitis and constipation, are not related to service. The preponderance of evidence indicates these conditions did not manifest during or within one year after service, and there is no credible continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease was found to meet the criteria for a 10 percent disability rating prior to August 16, 2016.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain a new VA examination and address the September 1957 service treatment record noting tenderness in the lumbosacral area, which may be related to the current low back disability.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for his service-connected back disability, including ankylosing spondylitis and intervertebral disc syndrome, was granted. A separate disability rating for scar residuals from thoracic spine surgery is also granted. The temporary total disability rating due to surgical treatment on January 13, 2003, is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed psychiatric disorder, and his claimed back, neck, knee, hip, and nerve disorders are not related to service. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is not service-connected as it did not manifest during his active duty service and there is no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and any in-service injury or event.

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

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his lumbar spine, right knee, and left fifth finger conditions was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine, L3-S1 prior to April 18, 2015, or as of April 18, 2015.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to his in-service injury during INACDUTRA.,Service connection was also granted for the Veteran's posttraumatic headaches with an initial evaluation of 30 percent from July 14, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spine condition, left upper extremity numbness, lumbar spine condition, and bilateral knee condition. The evidence shows that these conditions preexisted service but were aggravated by his final period of active duty service.

The VA reduced the Veteran's disability rating for his thoracolumbar spine disorder from 40 percent to 20 percent effective June 1, 2010. The reduction was upheld as supported by recent medical evidence showing improvement in the Veteran's condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Veteran does not have a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and to provide proper notice for his claim of service connection for headaches.

The Board has granted service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus, but the claims of service connection for lumbar strain and left ear hearing loss disability are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

All issues related to service connection have been granted. The Veteran's cluster headaches are rated at 50% effective October 1, 2010.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, associated with service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, has been manifested by symptomatology no worse than mild incomplete paralysis of the sciatic nerves. As such, a rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted.