Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's cervical spine disability was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty military service. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions, including lumbosacral strain/sprain, sleep apnea, hypertension, left knee disorder, erectile dysfunction, and urinary leakage, was denied. The rating assigned for the lumbosacral strain/sprain remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the service connection of his claimed conditions, particularly focusing on whether they are related to service or secondary to a pre-existing condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back injury, and as a result, the Veteran is now granted service connection for his diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's mechanical low back pain resulted in forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees, and a combined range of motion not greater than 120 degrees. The Board finds that this warrants a 20 percent disability rating effective February 8, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and private treatment records. The Veteran will also be afforded a supplemental examination of his back and shoulder disabilities as well as an appropriate examination relating to his gout.

The Veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance due to his service-connected low back pain and patellofemoral syndrome of bilateral knees was denied as the braces he uses do not tend to wear or tear his clothing.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the appellant's claimed conditions, including whether they are related to his service in August 1976. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's back disability has been characterized by forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees, no ankylosis, and without periods of acute signs and symptoms requiring bed rest prescribed by a physician and treatment by a physician. The criteria for a higher rating are not met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, right hip disorder, bilateral knee osteoarthritis, and thoracolumbar spine disorder are related to his service-connected toe fractures. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA spine examination to assess the current nature, extent and severity of his service-connected thoracolumbar strain. The examiner must specifically note all other symptoms not contemplated by the schedular criteria, including side effects from narcotic pain medications.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's increased rating claims for lumbar spine and right trapezius strain, as well as his SMC claim for aid and attendance at a higher level of care. The case is returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left ankle and lumbar spine disabilities were denied. The initial rating of 10 percent for the left ankle sprain was upheld, as was the 0 percent rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine prior to September 21, 2011. However, a higher rating of at least 20 percent on and after September 21, 2011, for his lumbar spine disability was denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective May 7, 2013. The rating has been granted based on the severity of her chronic lumbar strain and degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's PTSD claim was granted with an initial rating of 70 percent, effective October 4, 2011. The right lower inner lip scar and loss of teeth due to the residuals of fracture of mandible were both rated at 10 percent each. Service connection for traumatic brain injury, headaches, left heel strain, lumbosacral spine strain, esophageal cancer, and obstructive sleep apnea was granted as secondary to PTSD.

The Board found that the Veteran does not currently have a right knee disability or tinnitus, and her current diagnosed conditions are not related to her active service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and urinary incontinence, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition during service or within one year after separation from service. The examiner opined that the Veteran's back disability did not cause his hypertension.

The Veteran's lumbar disc disease, post-fusion L4-S1 was granted a 40 percent rating effective July 15, 2015. Service connection for degenerative disc disease C5-C6 and C7 with localized spinal stenosis and radiculopathy was established.

The Veteran's peptic ulcer disease was rated at 20% prior to June 9, 2015 and increased to 60% thereafter. His lumbosacral spine disability has been rated as 20%. The Veteran is entitled to TDIU effective August 11, 2009.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disorders, including a back disorder, right and left hip disorders, bilateral lower extremity disorders, right and left foot disorders, heart attack, and strokes. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.