Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran is granted TDIU solely due to service-connected PTSD as of March 30, 2007, except for the period from June 1, 2012 to November 30, 2012. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is not rated higher than the current schedular criteria allows.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of the record to determine the current severity of his service-connected cervical spine degenerative disc disease and bilateral shin splints.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain private treatment records and to provide a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities. The appeal will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's chronic lower back disability is found to have been incurred in service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, and compression fracture at T-12 began in service and have persisted since then. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar strain, finding that the evidence did not show any functional impairment warranting a higher disability rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current low back disability had its onset during his active military service, and grants service connection for lumbosacral strain and arthritis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations to evaluate his current service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder and finds that the Veteran's current back disability is less likely than not related to his military service. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ankle arthritis and plantar fasciitis of the left foot are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grant or financial assistance for the purchase of an automobile and adaptive equipment.

The Board granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and thoracic spine disabilities, finding that they were secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Veteran was also granted a higher rating for his spondylolisthesis with lumbosacral strain.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disorder is not related to service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating available under DC 5242. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the severity of his service-connected lumbar stenosis with DDD.

The Veteran's claimed conditions, including degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, coccyx fracture residuals, metabolic acidosis, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and right foot disorder, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims are denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative disc disease affecting the entire spine is denied as there is no credible evidence of an in-service injury, and the only competent opinion evidence does not support a relationship between current DDD and service.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar strain and cervical spine conditions have not met the criteria for a higher initial rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's neck disability was rated at 30 percent effective October 1, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for a lower back disorder will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability began during active duty and was aggravated by a motor vehicle accident during ACDUTRA service. The claim for erectile dysfunction is remanded as the Veteran did not file a notice of disagreement on the correct form.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, effective October 3, 2012. The rating reflects the severity of his condition based on functional impairment and pain.