Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection for a back disability, left leg disability, hiatal hernia, or head injury-related disability.,Service connection was denied as there is no medical evidence linking any current disabilities to active military service.

The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the right leg and left leg disabilities are each rated at 20 percent. The Board has granted a higher rating for the back disability but denied increased ratings for the right leg and left leg conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a chronic heart disorder/ischemic heart disease, his right and left foot hallux valgus do not meet criteria for separate ratings, his back disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to October 21, 2013, or from July 27, 2014, and his duodenal ulcer did not meet criteria for increased ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is at least as likely as not related to his service, including an in-service injury and subsequent treatment for a back strain. As such, the claim for service connection for a low back disability is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's back, left knee, right knee, and right ankle disabilities do not warrant higher initial ratings. The claims for increased ratings of dyssomnia, onychomycosis of the feet, and acne were denied as a matter of law.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including right knee, left knee, right ankle, left ankle, right hip, left hip, and lower back disabilities, did not originate in service or until years after service. The Veteran was not exposed to herbicides during his active duty.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and assigned a 70 percent rating for PTSD. The Veteran's neck, left hip, and bilateral knee disabilities were also found to be related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, is related to his active duty service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has restored the Veteran's disability rating for traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine from 40 percent to 40 percent, effective July 1, 2015.

The Board's February 2014 decision denying service connection for a right arm/shoulder disorder is dismissed as the Veteran did not file a timely Notice of Disagreement.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for low back syndrome was granted, but the appeal is pending on whether a timely notice of disagreement was filed in connection with the September 2013 decision denying a right ankle disability. The TDIU claim remains unresolved.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the Veteran's current low back disability to his service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbar strain is rated at 40 percent since February 25, 2015. The rating reflects the current level of disability based on limitation of motion and does not involve any presumption or new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding treatment records and the need for a VA examination. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased disability rating for his back disability is pending.

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

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar degenerative joint disease and left leg radiculopathy, rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment from May 3, 2004 (one year prior to the date of receipt of his claim) to October 4, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and foot drop are denied as there is no evidence of a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed neurological back condition, and therefore cannot establish service connection for this disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and consideration, including obtaining VA treatment records from Washington DC VAMC and Fort Belvoir.

The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the Veteran's back disorder and lower extremity nerve involvement. The issues of service connection for a right ankle disorder, initial evaluations for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, increased evaluations for erectile dysfunction and right shoulder bursitis, and TDIU are also being remanded.