Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a low back disability. The Veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and arthritis is not presumed to have been incurred therein. The right knee disability did not manifest in service and is otherwise unrelated to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a VA examination to determine his eligibility for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to May 21, 2013 was granted due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The hearing loss disability remains noncompensable.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise on all material elements of the claim, and thus service connection for a low back condition manifested by lumbar disc disease, dextroscoliosis, and back strain with left lower extremity radicular pain is granted.

The Board has ordered a new examination to determine if the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is related to service, manifested within one year of service, or caused by his service-connected bilateral foot and right ankle disabilities. The appeal will be remanded for these determinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is not related to his active service or his service-connected bilateral shin splints, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current back disability, including her tailbone injury during service, is not related to her military service and therefore denies her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar DDD and DJD, as well as sciatic radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, were denied. The initial rating assigned was not in excess of what was warranted based on the evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and orthopedic conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain gainful employment since February 10, 2011. The Board has granted a TDIU rating from that date.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently evaluated at 20 percent disabling for the entire appeal period, with limitation of forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees. The criteria for a higher rating are not met or nearly approximated.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to comply with Correia v. McDonald and obtain any recent treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar strain and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and associated radiculopathy disabilities are not related to service, including his military activities.,Similarly, the right shoulder disability is also not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran was not granted any new or additional benefits.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current low back disability and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities and lower extremities are not related to active service or any incident of service.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability has been manifested by pain with limited motion. The thoracolumbar spine was not productive of any ankylosis or incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome having a total duration of at least six weeks during the past 12 months, thus preventing a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right and left knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of notification for an examination and scheduling issues. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, as secondary to right and left knee disabilities, will be further developed.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to insufficient efforts to obtain records from the Appellant's Reserve service and incomplete addendum opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current seizure disorder, bilateral knee disability, or low back disability that is related to service. The claims are therefore denied.