Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, PTSD with anxiety and depression, mild thoracolumbar strain, malaria, and scars, preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective July 31, 2008. He also received separate ratings for his right and left lower extremity radiculopathies, both rated at 10 percent. The recurrent skin rash was rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not make him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment, thus the claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disorder is related to service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's left hip and low back disorders are not service connected, as there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year after discharge. The VA examiners concluded that his current conditions are less likely caused by or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals, and as a result, the claims are dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lower back conditions were not caused by or related to his active duty service, including spinal anesthesia applied during an operation in 1952 and carrying heavy equipment in Korea. The Veteran's PTSD did not result in total occupational and social impairment prior to December 30, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service and post-service medical records, verifying the Veteran's service in June 1983, and obtaining an additional medical opinion to address the nature and etiology of any low back disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back, left shoulder, and right ankle disorders are not related to his active service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied, but he was granted a TDIU prior to February 22, 2012.,His lumbar spine disability is primarily characterized by DJD and IVDS. The most recent VA examination found that forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine was limited to 90 degrees with pain on motion.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that any venereal warts or other penile skin disability was incurred during active service, and thus denied service connection for this condition. The claim for back disability remains pending as there are no current findings to adjudicate.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been rated as appropriate, with the exception of a reduction in his rating for the fractured first lumbar vertebra. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the inextricably intertwined issue of whether there was clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the November 1971 rating decision and March 1978 administrative decision regarding service connection for back disabilities. The effective date claim will be returned to the Board after this CUE issue is resolved.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability related to service for his back, left shoulder, and left knee conditions. The evidence does not establish continuity of symptomatology or a nexus between these disabilities and service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a hearing at the local RO due to his request. The issues of overpayment and reduction of benefits are still under consideration.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and conducting medical examinations to clarify the nature of the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, right knee strain, thoracic lumbar strain, right ankle strain, and right shoulder strain.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development regarding his lumbosacral strain and bilateral leg radiculopathy claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination and additional evidence submission. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for back strain with degenerative disc disease and TDIU are being addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee chondromalacia, lumbosacral spine disability, cervical spine disability, and left ear hearing loss are currently rated at the lowest possible initial rating of 10 percent. The Board finds that these conditions do not warrant a higher rating based on their current manifestations.