Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to the need for a VA examination and further evaluation of his service-connected cervical spine disorder and lumbar spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee injury. The lumbar spine disability is considered unknown due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain and a maximum schedular rating of 50 percent for migraine headaches. The Veteran's eye pterygium remains at the initial 10 percent rating.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left leg and knee disability. The Veteran reported an injury in 1972 during service, which he believes caused his current back and left leg/knee disabilities. A VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease with spondylolisthesis is rated at 40 percent since December 18, 2014. The radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities are each rated at 10 percent since December 18, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his conditions did not warrant a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective May 21, 2011. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from obtaining and maintaining all forms of substantially gainful employment as of April 19, 2007.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current low back disorder is less likely related to military service, including a fall off a truck in service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for his lumbar disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for hyperhidrosis, allergic rhinitis, and lumbar strain. The Veteran's current conditions are found to have been incurred during his active military service.

The Veteran's claim for a sleep disorder is dismissed as it has been granted by the RO.,Service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, secondary to bilateral knee patellofemoral syndrome, is not established.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is currently rated at 40 percent, the maximum available under VA regulations. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to her request for a hearing. The claims will be returned to the Board after the requested hearing.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a stomach disorder and a low back disorder has been granted. The Board found that the current disability resulted from a service-connected disability, specifically his headaches treatment regime.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back, left knee, and left ankle disabilities were not shown to have had onset during service or within one year after active service. The current disabilities are unrelated to active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied across the board. The Board found that none of his service-connected conditions met the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate examination reports and need for clarification on service connection issues.

The Veteran's service-connected thoracic spine disability is denied. His left knee and right knee disabilities are granted with increased ratings, while his service-connected lumbar spine disability remains at a 20 percent rating.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss causes or aggravates his chronic headache disability. The claim of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss on an extraschedular basis will be referred to the Director, Compensation Service, for extraschedular consideration. Additionally, the case will be remanded to issue a Statement of the Case (SOC) on the claim of entitlement to an initial rating greater than 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the peripheral neuropathy of his lower extremities associated with this condition are also rated. The claim for increased ratings remains pending.

The VA Board found that there is no evidence to support a current low back disability other than the service-connected compression deformity of the inferior endplate of L1, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for secondary service connection.