Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was initially rated at 10 percent from August 29, 2006 to September 9, 2011. After the May 2012 rating decision, a higher initial rating of 20 percent was granted effective September 9, 2011.

The Veteran's back disability, including radiculopathy of the right and left lower extremities, is rated at 40 percent since March 19, 2012. The claim for TDIU is part of her appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical spine, low back, left and right knee, and left and right ankle disabilities are denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's spondylolisthesis of L5 on S1 is currently rated at 40 percent, effective March 17, 2010. The rating reflects the current state of her disability based on the criteria for a thoracolumbar spine with forward flexion to 30 degrees or less.

The Board has granted the appellant's request to reopen his claims for service connection for a back disability and bilateral hearing loss, finding new and material evidence. The claim of service connection for tinnitus was also reopened.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus as both conditions are found to be at least as likely as not attributable to active service.

The Board denied service connection for both left hip and low back disorders, finding no current disability due to the Veteran's in-service motor vehicle accidents.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining missing records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his daily activities and employment.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the back are manifested by one scar, which does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA disability evaluation criteria.

The Board is considering the Veteran's back disability claim on the merits without the need for new and material evidence. The appeal is REMANDED to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC), in Washington, DC.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbosacral spine, cervical spine, and radiculopathy disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding whether his right shoulder dislocation has caused or made worse these conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bowel and bladder disabilities are not related to his service-connected degenerative changes of the thoracolumbar spine. The November 2012 VA examiner opined that it is less likely as not that these conditions were either caused (in whole or in part) or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding service connection for a low back disability. The Veteran's lay statements and in-service injury are considered, but further examination is needed.

The Veteran seeks service connection for various conditions, including bilateral pes planus and its secondary effects. The case is being remanded to obtain a new VA examination of the Veteran's bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for spondylosis of the thoracolumbar spine has been granted. The claims for allergies, hearing loss, glaucoma, and rheumatoid arthritis and/or arthritis of the cervical spine, elbows, wrists, and hips have also been granted with appropriate ratings. Other claims were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disorder and thoracic spine disorder are not rated higher than the current assigned ratings of 40 percent for the lumbar spine disorder and 20 percent for the thoracic spine disorder.

The Veteran's lumbar strain limits forward flexion to 35 degrees at worst, but does not result in incapacitating episodes or neurological impairment. The criteria for a higher rating than 20 percent have not been met.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain updated VA and private treatment records, as well as an additional VA examination. The Veteran's claim for increased disability rating for his service-connected residuals of a low back injury and TDIU are also being remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine degenerative joint disease with left arm radiculopathy and lumbar spine degenerative joint disease due to a lack of new and material evidence. The claims were previously denied in August 2007, and no new or material evidence was submitted within one year of that decision.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied as there is no evidence of moderate or severe limitation of motion, incapacitating episodes, or associated neurological disability. The current rating of 20 percent adequately reflects the severity of the Veteran's condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and any associated neurological manifestations.