Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for depression, lumbar spine, and right knee. The issues of service connection for a left knee disorder, right hip disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension were also denied.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and the Veteran's claim of CUE in the denial of his claim for residuals of cold injuries of the feet. The effective date for service connection was not changed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to the need for a VA medical opinion and consideration of new evidence. The appeal is being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's low back disability, postoperative changes at L4 and L5 with pedicle screws in place, has been rated as 20 percent disabling since July 17, 2013. The rating is based on the current functional impairment of the spine.

The Board finds that the Veteran's statements as to the onset of his low back disc disease and continuity of symptomatology since service are credible, and the Veteran's lay statements and supporting medical evidence are sufficient to establish continuity of symptomatology. Service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, and left shoulder disorder due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder was not incurred or aggravated by service and denied his claims for service connection. The appeals for basic eligibility for specially adaptive housing and special home adaptation grant were also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current plantar fasciitis of the left foot and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The issue regarding an increased rating for her lumbar spine disability remains pending.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence did not support a higher disability evaluation. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea was also addressed but is noted as part of the remand portion.

The Board found that the Veteran's chronic lumbar strain did not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent. The Veteran was also denied TDIU benefits as her service-connected disabilities do not preclude her from obtaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for pension benefits was denied as his income exceeded the maximum allowable pension rate. For issues related to depression and thoracolumbar spine disability, the Board found that the symptoms were contemplated by the schedular rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including consideration of new evidence and a TDIU claim. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, but he contends that it warrants an evaluation in excess of this amount. Additionally, he claims to be unable to work due to his condition.

The Veteran's left arm injury is found to be proximately due to his service-connected pes planus and lumbar spine disabilities. The Board grants a disability rating of 20 percent for the service-connected DDD of the lumbar spine, effective from July 13, 2008.

The Veteran's depression is found to be related to his service-connected PTSD.,His right knee strain is determined to have been incurred during active service.,DDD and DJD of the lumbar spine are also found to be related to active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disorder is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and cervical spine as secondary to treatment for service-connected ulcerative colitis.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain with slight degenerative disc disease is not rated higher than the assigned initial ratings of 10 percent prior to September 17, 2013, and 20 percent thereafter.

The Board finds that the Veteran's low back disability is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his service, and it was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability. As such, the claim for service connection for the low back disability is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee and hip disabilities, and therefore denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records from February 6, 1996 to February 5, 1999 and providing an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's low back disorder.