Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for her lumbar spine spondylosis has been denied. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to July 9, 2015 or in excess of 40 percent since that date.

The Veteran's appeal for higher disability ratings and TDIU was granted, with a combined rating of at least 70% for his service-connected disabilities. SMC based on housebound status is also granted.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and granted it, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence in favor of the Veteran's claim.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left knee arthritis with limitation of motion is granted, while the claims for service connection and reopening are also granted.

The Board has determined that a new and contemporaneous examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's lumbar and thoracic sprain disability, as it has been more than six years since his last VA examination. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder, left knee disorder, right shoulder disorder, and right knee disorder. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disorder was not addressed as it is not related to the issues on appeal.,Service connection for epididymitis was also denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus was related to hazardous noise exposure during his second period of active duty service. His hearing loss and back condition were not related to service, while the claim for residuals of dengue fever is denied due to lack of evidence of residuals at any time during the appeals period. The skin cancer claim remains pending.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a rating of at least 30 percent, considering his occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. The other issues remain pending for further examination and evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his right knee disorder, back disorder, left knee disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a current diagnosis of DDD of the lumbar spine and spondylosis with lumbar radiculopathy. The Board also found that this condition is related to active duty.

The Board has reopened the claims for hypertension, lumbar spine disability, right ankle disability, cysts, and hearing loss disability due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial.,No new evidence was found to reopen the claims for left shoulder disability and anxiety/nervousness.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain has been rated at 40 percent since September 1997, and this rating remains in effect.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a TBI was reopened and granted, with an effective date of April 4, 2013.,A compensable rating (20%) is assigned for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, effective from April 4, 2013.,The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% and a higher rating is denied.,Sciatic nerve left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted with an initial rating of 10%, effective from January 13, 2011. The femoral nerve left lower extremity radiculopathy was also granted with an initial rating of 10%, effective from the same date.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disorder due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to service. The claims for respiratory disorder (including sleep apnea) and hypertension are pending as there is no clear indication that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's combined disability rating of the lumbar spine associated disabilities is 60 percent, which meets the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate from April 23, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the appropriate disability ratings and TDIU status.

The Board has remanded the claims due to inadequate medical opinions and further development is required.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder and increased evaluations for the Veteran's cervical spine and left upper extremity radiculopathy. The effective date is not specified as it relates to these issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The lumbar spine disability was rated at 40 percent, effective July 26, 2013.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted a 10 percent initial rating from September 1, 2007 to February 5, 2015. The left hip disability received a noncompensable (zero percent) initial rating and has not been rated higher.