Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current stomach condition or any other service-connected disabilities, and thus cannot grant service connection for these issues.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board finds that there is no evidence of ankylosis or intervertebral disc syndrome to warrant a higher rating. The claim for TDIU was also denied as the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, a compensable evaluation for residuals of a right radius fracture, an evaluation greater than 10 percent for residuals of a right heel fracture, and a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to December 6, 2005, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter for chronic right shoulder separation, status post distal clavicle resection surgery.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining specific dates of active duty and private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of consideration of new evidence and potential for staged ratings.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, left hip, and right hip disabilities on a secondary basis to his now service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The VA examiner found that these conditions are not related to his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back injury and respiratory disability, finding no evidence to support direct or secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for low back strain and TDIU are now before the Board.

The Veteran withdrew all appeals regarding her disability claims prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease with arthritic changes of the lumbar spine had its onset in service, and thus granted service connection for this condition. The issues regarding gout and GERD as secondary to diabetes mellitus are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to perceived deficiencies in its analysis of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back disorder. The case needs further development and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is not related to his military service and denied both his claim for service connection and his request for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is not etiologically related to his service, including a ruptured rectus femoralis muscle during service and his MOS duties as a physical therapy specialist.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as he did not provide evidence of a current disability or link to service. The Board found no evidence of undiagnosed illnesses or medically unexplained multisymptom illnesses.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service-connected cervical sprain with degenerative disc disease resulted in forward flexion of the cervical spine to 15 degrees or less, warranting a 30 percent rating since September 16, 2008.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including an addendum opinion regarding neurological impairment and consideration of extraschedular TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and left knee disabilities were not incurred in or related to service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verifying periods of active duty training and inactive duty training, scheduling a VA examination to determine if any current low back disability is related to service, and readjudicating the claim.

The Board has determined that there is a relationship between the Veteran's current back disorder and his service-connected left knee disability, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's back disability has been rated at 20 percent since April 6, 2015. The Board found that the combined disability ratings for his service-connected disabilities meet the minimum combined rating criteria under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) (2015) for eligibility to a TDIU from February 9, 2015.