Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's right ankle strain and low back condition (including lumbosacral disc disease and lumbar degenerative joint disease) were incurred in service.

The Board found no evidence of a back disorder during service and insufficient credible evidence to link the current condition to service. The Veteran's statements regarding in-service injuries are not credible due to inconsistencies with other evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being REMANDED for additional development, including a new VA examination and the securing of all relevant medical records. The issues of entitlement to SMC and TDIU are also remanded.

The Veteran sought TDIU based on his service-connected low back disability and depression. The September 1981 rating decision denied the claim, finding that the objective findings did not warrant an increase in the 20 percent rating for lumbosacral strain and that the schedular requirements for a TDIU were not met.

The Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine was rated at 10 percent prior to May 11, 2011 and increased to 40 percent thereafter. Effective from July 13, 2012, a separate rating of 20 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disorder, low back disorder, right knee disorder, neck disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, and right elbow disorder have been reopened. The claim of service connection for a left knee disorder is granted.,Service connection has also been granted for the Veteran's low back disorder.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent since September 6, 2012. Prior to this date, his disability was rated as 10 percent.

The Veteran's current left knee, right knee, left hip, and low back disabilities are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are caused or aggravated by his service-connected residuals of a tibia and fibula fracture.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hammertoes was granted with an effective date of April 11, 2010. His PTSD remains at a maximum evaluation of 30 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for idiopathic microhematuria was denied as it is a laboratory finding and not a disability. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current disability for which service connection may be granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for headaches. The Veteran's current migraine headaches had their onset in service, and are therefore service connected. Service connection is also granted for a lumbar spine disability as secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities. However, there is no evidence linking the Veteran's sinusitis to service.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine disorder was rated at 10 percent prior to August 5, 2015, and increased to 40 percent thereafter. The peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities were not found to warrant higher ratings.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims to reopen service connection for degenerative disk disease of the lumbar spine with spondylolisthesis and hearing loss. The issues of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current testicular disability, and thus service connection for this condition is denied. The low back and right shoulder disabilities are also found to be unrelated to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection of a low back disability and right knee injury. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examinations and the need for further development of the Veteran's claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability is not related to his active service or a service-connected condition, and thus denied his claim for service connection. The issue of financial assistance for an automobile and adaptive equipment was also denied.

The Veteran's initial claims for service connection were received by VA less than one year after he separated from active service, and the disabilities originated while he was serving on active duty. The effective date of the awards is set to October 1, 2006.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA spine examination.