Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral hearing loss, low back strain, left knee arthritis, and right knee arthritis, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise that he meets this criterion for TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability with bilateral radiculopathy, finding that the Veteran's symptoms had their onset in service. The heart disorder and neck disability claims are remanded as additional medical opinions are needed to determine their relationship to service. Right and left foot disabilities are also remanded.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 10 percent, effective July 27, 2011. Service connection has been granted for left knee/left leg disability and lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded this matter due to additional development being necessary, including an examination of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to work. The claim is now pending for further review.

The Veteran's back disability, diagnosed as muscle strain with degenerative disc disease at L5-S1, has been evaluated as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Codes 5237-5242. The criteria for a higher rating are not met.

The Board has remanded the case to the AOJ for scheduling a videoconference hearing due to the Veteran's request. The appeal is not resolved on its merits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of DJD, DDD, and stenosis are related to his in-service injury while unloading a supply truck. As such, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance was denied as there is no documented provision of a manual wheelchair or other qualifying prosthetic or orthopedic appliance that tends to wear or tear his clothing, and the medications prescribed do not cause irreparable damage to his outergarments.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at a 20 percent rating effective July 25, 2014. The condition was previously rated as 10 percent prior to that date.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease as of May 29, 2008. The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities were rated at 10 percent each.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a back disability and finds that new and material evidence has been submitted. The Veteran is found to have continuously experienced back pain symptomatology since his discharge from service, which meets the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is currently rated at 40 percent, effective December 23, 2009. The rating reflects the presence of limitation of motion and no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, with L2 deformity, was found to warrant a 10 percent rating based on the schedular criteria. The extraschedular consideration did not result in an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including consideration of an extraschedular evaluation and a TDIU claim. The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is at issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims have been denied as his appeals do not involve service connection issues, but rather focus on rating determinations and effective dates. The specific issues are related to increased ratings for various conditions and effective date determinations.

The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbar spine arthritis and right foot plantar fasciitis have been granted. The initial compensable disability rating of 10 percent has also been granted for the left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his low back disability. The matter will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated at 20 percent since June 29, 2009. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted for any period of time.

The Board found that the Veteran's neck and low back disabilities are not service-connected as they did not have their onset during active duty, or were otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury, disease, or event.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disorders, but not for a left shoulder disorder. The evidence submitted since the March 2009 decision raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims, while the evidence does not raise such a possibility for the left shoulder disorder.