Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is aggravated by his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The left knee disorder claim will be remanded as it was not addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance was denied as he did not meet the schedular criteria for such benefits.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an additional VA examiner's opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's back disorder and his service. The Veteran is invited to submit any updated private medical records.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disability did not have onset in service and was not caused or permanently aggravated by his active military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her low back disorder, right and left knee disabilities, and left hip arthritis. The Veteran was not granted service connection for sleep apnea or hypertension as secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 40 percent since June 13, 2014. The RO found that the evidence did not meet criteria for a higher rating prior to this date.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hoarseness, sore throats, eye disability, right shoulder disorder, and low back disorder are all granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, cold injury residuals, and right foot injury are not related to service or manifest within one year of separation. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and neuritis of the left lower extremity were not found to warrant higher initial ratings based on current symptomatology.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spondylolisthesis causes his back brace to wear and tear clothing, warranting a clothing allowance for the years 2014 and 2015.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, neck disorder, and low back disorder. The evidence does not support finding that these conditions were incurred during periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) or inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA).

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain has been manifested by complaints of pain on motion, but does not cause limitation of flexion to 60 degrees or less, or combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine to 120 degrees or less. The disability affects usual occupation and daily activities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was aggravated by his service-connected right knee condition, and thus grants service connection for this disability.

The Veteran's claim for separate evaluations for neurological manifestations of chronic lumbosacral strain is denied. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have any neurological manifestations related to his service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain. His claim for an increased evaluation for residuals of a left meniscectomy is also denied as there are no new and material evidence submitted since the last final rating decision, and the preponderance of the evidence shows that he does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to January 15, 2016. For the period from January 15, 2016, he is not eligible for schedular TDIU but may be eligible for extraschedular TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability was caused by his service-connected right ankle disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, finding that it is related to the Veteran's military service. The respiratory disorder claim will be remanded for issuance of a statement of the case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his psychiatric disability did not meet criteria for a higher rating, his headache disability did not warrant an initial rating in excess of 30 percent, and he did not have PTSD or bipolar disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbosacral strain did not meet or approximate criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent, as his range of motion was limited to 70 degrees forward flexion and 205 degrees combined range of motion. The other issues on appeal were also denied.