Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, and thus grants a TDIU rating on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA spine examination to address the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed thoracic and lumbar spine disabilities. The claims will be readjudicated after this additional evidence is considered.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have residuals of a heat injury, left knee disability, or low back disability as a result of service. The claim for right arm neuropathy is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, low back disorder, arthritis, left leg disability, and right leg disability have been denied as they are not supported by evidence showing causation or aggravation in-service.

The Veteran's urinary incontinence is currently rated at 20 percent, and his fecal incontinence is rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the current ratings are appropriate based on the severity of symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate factual premise and incomplete medical opinion in a prior VA examination.

The Veteran's exposure to solvents during his period of honorable service from February 1977 to August 1979 contributed to the development of his current cirrhosis, and the Board finds service connection for cirrhosis is warranted.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to October 16, 2013, and in excess of 40 percent as of October 16, 2013, for degenerative disc disease of the low back with loss of motion was denied.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease is rated at 10 percent, and his right leg sciatica and left leg sciatica are each rated at 20 percent. The effective dates for the ratings are April 11, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his pending appeal for service connection of joint pain and back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection, and TDIU due to incomplete development of records and inadequate medical opinions. The claims are being returned for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension with hyperkalemia, headaches, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's right knee condition and left knee condition are not considered incurred in or aggravated by service. Service connection for head injury is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's persistent depressive disorder is related to her military service and grants service connection for this condition. The other issues are addressed as part of the merits review.

The Veteran withdrew all his appeals regarding the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and a low back disability at the October 2015 Board hearing.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to his active military service. The Veteran does not have a disability of either ankle, left knee, or multiple joints (shoulders, arms, hands) that had its clinical onset in service or is otherwise related to active duty.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is service-connected. The issues of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and lumbar spine disorder, as well as increased rating for left thumb scar are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right foot pes planus, low back disorder, and left knee disorder are all service-connected. The right foot pes planus is presumed to have been aggravated by service. The low back and left knee disorders are found to be aggravated by her service-connected left foot disability.

The Veteran's shin splints, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, muscle strain, and residuals of a right calf muscle injury are not related to his active service. The Board also finds that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses for the other claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and numbness in the toes, finding that these conditions are likely related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to address his service connection claims.