Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, and tension headache disorder are service-connected. The heart disability, throat disability, and back disability claims have been denied due to lack of evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 7, 2013 for the award of a 20 percent evaluation for his service-connected low back disability has been denied. The Board found that the current symptomatology is not more severe prior to February 7, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when evaluated in association with his educational attainment and occupational experience, preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the criteria for TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) have been met.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease has been manifested by painful motion, but not to the extent that it warrants a higher rating under VA's rating criteria.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, diagnosed as cervical degenerative disc disease with left upper extremity radiculopathy, is related to his service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has ordered additional development due to incomplete records and the need for further examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney disability and low back disability will be remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disabilities, best characterized as lumbosacral strain and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, are aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disability. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he requested to withdraw the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 40 for lumbar spinal degenerative joint disease with recurrent herniated nucleus pulposus and intervertebral disc syndrome, status post diskectomies.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his intent to pursue an increase in the ratings for his thoracolumbar and cervical spine disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion and need for additional examination.

The Veteran's disability rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was increased to 40 percent effective April 1, 2011. The ratings for associated right and left lower extremity radiculopathy were also granted.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and associated radiculopathy issues have been granted, with a rating of 40 percent effective November 25, 2014. The right lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent since that date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical evidence and adjudicative documents from Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability and bilateral knee disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including rescheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's low back and right knee disabilities are being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for new VA examinations and evaluations of his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with musculoskeletal strain of the lower back, as well as any current respiratory disorder. The Veteran should be provided with a new examination in connection with both claims.

The Board has decided that the claims of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a low back injury, cardiovascular disability, and hypertension need further development due to incomplete records and requires additional examinations.

The Veteran's hammertoe of the right fifth toe has been granted a noncompensable rating, but no higher. The Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine is currently rated as 20 percent prior to November 17, 2008 and 40 percent beginning June 1, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records from the Pittsburgh VAMC and associated locations.