Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during active service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for arthritis/degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the thoracolumbar spine, cervical spine, right hand, left hand, right knee, and left knee based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's initial rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease with disc herniation status post L5-S1 diskectomy was granted, but the appeal is about a higher initial rating. The current evaluation of 20 percent prior to October 5, 2006 and 10 percent from January 1, 2007 is maintained.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his low back and cervical spine disabilities, right knee disability, or radiculopathy of the lower extremities.

The Veteran's current right knee disorder was not incurred or aggravated in service and may not be presumed to have been.,There is no evidence of a current diagnosis for the Veteran's left knee disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed back disability, bilateral removal of toes, and bilateral foot ulcers are not service-connected as they did not have onset during active service or within one year of service discharge, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The claim for increased rating of lumbar spine disability was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU, finding that his low back disability did not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any back disorder.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease, residuals of L4-L5 discectomy, is rated at 40 percent and his osteoarthritis of the right and left knees are each rated at 10 percent. The current ratings adequately reflect the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability, diagnosed as segmental dysfunction complicated by arthritic degeneration, low back strain and low back sprain, originated during his active service. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a left wrist disorder or back disorder that is related to his military service. The claims for service connection are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of left knee, bilateral hip and low back disabilities as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by the service-connected condition.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative joint and disc disease was rated at 20% effective February 5, 2008. His lumbar radiculopathy of the right lower extremity was rated at 10% effective November 18, 2004.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further action, including scheduling an RO hearing. The issues on appeal include ratings for various conditions and disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine did not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for erectile dysfunction was denied as he does not have penile deformity.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of erectile dysfunction was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, arranging for addendum opinions on his closed head injury/subdural hematoma, and arranging for VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lower thoracic and lumbar spine with osteopenia and some compression fractures, GERD, and Raynaud's syndrome.