Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

Service connection for a low back condition has been granted, and the Veteran is entitled to a higher initial rating for tinnitus.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss claim was denied due to lack of hearing loss for VA purposes. He is seeking an initial compensable rating for his left ear hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing a supplemental VA medical opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability had its onset in service and continues to this day, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's appeal was denied on all issues, with the exception of her initial disability rating for left knee tibial plateau fracture and DJD. The other claims were not addressed due to lack of substantive appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total rating based on convalescence following his June 2012 surgery is denied because the surgery was performed for a non-service-connected condition (a sacral meningeal cyst) and not to treat his service-connected low back strain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as he has been gainfully employed throughout the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim. For his calluses of the left foot, he is currently receiving the maximum available rating under Diagnostic Code 7804.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, right sciatica, left shoulder joint disorder, bilateral foot disorder, and IBS have been granted increased ratings. The effective dates for these increases are not specified.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is not caused by or a result of his active duty service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate for rating purposes, and thus a new examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's low back disorder is related to service or secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's low back disability, characterized by degenerative joint disease and pain, was initially rated at 10 percent prior to March 29, 2010. The current rating of 10 percent is maintained as the evidence does not meet criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his low back strain with chronic facet arthritis of the lumbar spine and denied service connection for his bilateral hip disability, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations and effective date were granted, with a combined 100% rating effective March 21, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a low back disability, right knee disability, right wrist disability, right foot disability, right hip disability, toenail fungus, or varicose veins that are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings or earlier effective dates.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, a heart disorder, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and sleep apnea. The appeal is remanded to the AOJ.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his low back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and an addendum medical opinion regarding flare-ups of his symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the spine as secondary to service-connected knee disabilities. The issues regarding increased ratings for right knee disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine is granted as it became manifest to a degree of 10 percent within one year of his separation from active duty. The claims for increased ratings for right and left shoulder strain, and residuals of an eye injury are referred back to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability was denied. The current rating of 20 percent is maintained.