Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis and awarded a 10 percent rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's disability ratings are based on their specific manifestations, with no separate ratings assigned for pain or neurologic abnormalities.

The Veteran's low back strain with HNP was rated at 20 percent prior to November 17, 2003 and granted a higher rating of 40 percent effective from that date.

The Veteran's service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy has been rated as 20 percent disabling since December 3, 2014.,Prior to December 3, 2014, the Veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc displacement L4-L5. Since then, he is rated at 40 percent.,The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated as 10 percent disabling since February 9, 2009 and increased to 20 percent effective December 3, 2014. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for this condition.,The Veteran's left knee laxity was initially granted a 10 percent rating from February 9, 2009. Since then, he has been rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete medical opinions and additional evidence being added to the record.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine, left knee, and right knee disabilities were denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board denied service connection for a left hip disability, finding that there is no current diagnosis of such a condition and that any symptoms are related to the Veteran's service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals for all issues, and the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder did not relate to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for low back strain was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an examination to address whether the Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability aggravated his claimed low back disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection claims for bilateral shoulder, knee, hip, left ankle, and lower back disorders due to a lack of new and material evidence showing a link between these conditions and either service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found that his current condition is more likely due to natural progression and age-related changes, rather than a service injury.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities are not related to service or secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus with hammertoe deformity.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right ear hearing loss was withdrawn.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction, secondary to PTSD, is granted. The evidence does not establish a direct relationship between the Veteran's PTSD and his erectile dysfunction.

The Board has determined that a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) was received with regard to the September 2006 and October 2006 rating decisions, which denied service connection for various conditions. The appeal is now remanded for issuance of a Statement of the Case regarding these issues.

The appeal is being remanded due to the possibility of missing service records. The Veteran's National Guard service from June 1989 to September 1992 and 1995 to 1999 needs to be verified, as well as any full-time duty in the National Guard during January to August 1991.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain service treatment records and VA/privately obtained medical records.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of a lumbar spine disability has been denied. The RO is required to issue a Statement of the Case (SOC) on this matter.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 10 percent prior to November 18, 2014 and denied for a higher rating. Since then, he has been rated at 50 percent effective November 18, 2014.