Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issue of entitlement to a temporary 100 percent evaluation due to hospitalization for service-connected PTSD requires issuance of a statement of the case.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to missing treatment records and insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's low back disability and service.

The Veteran's lumbar and cervical spine disabilities were evaluated at 10 percent prior to September 2, 2010, and the Board found that these evaluations did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and entitlement to increased evaluations for anxiety disorder and headaches. The decision also noted that the Veteran did not meet criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for an extra-schedular rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability is not causally or etiologically related to his complaints during service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's back disability, including T12 compression fracture, lumbar facet arthropathy, and lumbar degenerative disc disease, is not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected right and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar spine strain with degenerative disc disease is rated at 40 percent. The left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent from January 9, 2009 to January 5, 2012; and 10 percent prior to that period. An effective date of June 1, 2015 for the 20 percent rating for left ulnar neuropathy with cubital tunnel syndrome is granted.

The Veteran's separation pay was properly recouped from his VA disability compensation benefits, and restoration of the recouped amount is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, back disability (including arthritis), left knee disability (including arthritis), and right knee disability (including arthritis) were denied. Service connection was granted for coronary artery disease with a 60% rating, PTSD with a 50% rating, diabetes mellitus type II with a 20% rating, and chest scar with a 10% rating from April 24, 2013.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for chest disorder, left shoulder disorder, back disorder, and prostate disorder. However, after reviewing all available evidence, including VA treatment records, private physician opinions, and examination reports, the Board finds no current diagnosis of a chronic chest disorder related to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and requests for additional information from the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, lumbar spine, left hand neurological, and right hand neurological disorders were denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and a left knee condition, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the awards of a 40 percent rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and right foot drop, finding that it was not factually ascertainable that an increase in disability occurred within the one-year period prior to September 15, 2009.

The Veteran's appeals have been withdrawn. The Board finds that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, and thus grants a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected right ankle disability is granted, with the effective date being September 10, 2013. The Veteran also has service connection established for arthritis of the right ankle and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and affording the Veteran a VA medical examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and to obtain relevant medical records. The case will be returned for further action.