Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar strain, including DDD and spondylosis at multiple levels, was granted with various schedular ratings from October 1, 2002 to August 1, 2010. The case also addressed a temporary total disability rating based on surgical treatment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge sitting at the Montgomery RO regarding all six issues on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any back or right sciatic nerve disorder related to service and thus denied these claims.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA spine examination and considering the Veteran's September 2014 PTSD examination report. The claims will be readjudicated after this.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease, is attributable to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for postoperative residuals of a low back injury, finding that his disability did not manifest within one year after service and was not caused or aggravated by any aspect of active or Reserve service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and neck disorders are not related to service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his lumbar spine disability and service connection for a cervical spine disability, finding no evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes related to his spine disabilities. The Board also found that there was insufficient medical evidence to establish a causal relationship between the Veteran's cervical spine disability and either his service or his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's low back strain is currently rated at 10 percent since November 12, 2013. The Board found that the current symptomatology does not warrant a higher rating as it did not meet the criteria for an increased rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a retrospective opinion regarding his employability based on service-connected disabilities prior to April 22, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability, including degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine, L4-L5, is related to a fall on the obstacle course during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability benefits records and any further treatment records identified by the Veteran. The issues on appeal are whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for low back disability and entitlement to service connection for left hip disability secondary to a nonservice-connected low back disability.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and development were not fully completed, and thus the claims are being remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the case for a supplemental opinion regarding whether the Veteran's back disability was proximately caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability. The appeal is now pending again.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disorder is related to his active duty service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the low back and an initial compensable disability evaluation for eczema. The evidence does not show a current diagnosis of arthritis in the low back.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability had its onset during his second period of active duty service and is etiologically related to this service. Therefore, service connection for a lumbar spine disability with bilateral lower extremity radicular symptoms is granted.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, manifested by dislocation of the clavicle or scapula with no evidence of impairment of the humerus, ankylosis, or limitation of motion to 25 degrees from the side, is rated at 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 5203.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, shin splints, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.