Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is related to his active military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraines, digestive disorder, intervertebral disc syndrome of the left lower extremity, chronic sinusitis, digestive disorder (impaired sphincter control), lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease and intervertebral disc syndrome, and hemorrhoids, met the percentage requirements for a TDIU from February 27, 2012 to December 10, 2014.

The Veteran's combined rating is at least 70% due to his service-connected disabilities, qualifying him for a TDIU. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone are sufficient by themselves to render him unemployable.

The Veteran's radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, associated with facet syndrome and degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the lumbar spine, is currently rated at 40 percent under Diagnostic Code 8520. The Board finds this rating to be appropriate based on the severity of his symptoms.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the thoracic spine are as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for earlier effective dates and service connection. The Board has determined that the issues are not properly before it due to a lack of an SOC in some cases, and requests for travel hearings have been made but not yet scheduled.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric condition and spinal disorders, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of June 10, 2008. The effective date for the grant of TDIU is set at this time.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and will review the claims based on additional evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbosacral myositis has not been shown to meet the criteria for a higher rating, as his disability does not result in actual limitation of motion or functional loss due to pain.

The Veteran has withdrawn all his appeals, and the Board therefore dismisses the entire appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including consideration of new evidence and scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various psychiatric, musculoskeletal, and spinal disorders. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate these claims.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for dizziness was not granted as new and material evidence had not been received, while his claims of service connection for an ear disorder (tinnitus) were denied. The low back disability claim has been reopened but the grant is based on de novo review.,Service connection for a low back disability has been reopened due to the submission of additional evidence showing degenerative changes and related symptoms.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a tooth condition, low back disability, skin disability (residuals of MRSA infection), and an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for an orthopedic examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain new VA examinations and to determine if his service-connected disabilities render him unemployable. The case will be returned to the Board for further review.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current back disability was aggravated by his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction, but new and material evidence was not found. The rating for DDD of the lumbar spine remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing lumbosacral spine disability was not aggravated by his final period of active service and denied entitlement to service connection.