Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Veteran's initial claim for a low back disability was granted with an initial noncompensable evaluation effective December 1, 2008. The VA increased the evaluation to 20 percent beginning September 15, 2011, but did not go back to December 1, 2008. The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability met criteria for a 10% evaluation from December 1, 2008, to September 14, 2011, and denied any higher evaluations.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evidence and a supplemental opinion from an examiner.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, initially rated as 0 percent for lumbosacral strain from February 8, 2008 to April 26, 2013, was recharacterized and assigned a 20 percent rating effective April 26, 2013. The new rating includes intervertebral disc syndrome with associated radiculopathy of the right lower extremity.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims, including consideration of old and new criteria for evaluating spine disabilities, as well as entitlement to an extraschedular evaluation and a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability.

The Board has granted service connection for the claimed conditions and assigned a 20% disability rating effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's claim regarding the reduction of his disability rating from 100 percent to 40 percent for DDD of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to procedural defects in the previous rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar strain with degenerative changes, right shoulder tendinitis, and a cervical strain with degenerative changes. The Veteran's current diagnoses are related to the injury he sustained in service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability is rated at 10 percent, and his right shoulder subluxation is rated at 20 percent. Both conditions are not shown to warrant higher ratings based on the current evidence of record.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for varicosities of the left lower extremity, low back disability, and bilateral ankle disability are being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for GERD, bilateral pes planus, and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease were denied. The Veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for bilateral pes planus from August 3, 2009.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder did not originate during service and is not related to his in-service back complaints or to his service-connected left knee chondromalacia. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is related to his in-service injuries and granted service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board found that the Veteran's current cervical and lumbar spine disabilities were not related to his military service, including lifting heavy items in supply work. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Veteran's right knee DJD, status-post surgery with instability and residual scars is rated at 30 percent from April 10, 2010. His left knee DJD, status-post osteotomy with scars is rated at 10 percent from May 1, 2006 to April 9, 2010.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and lumbar spinal stenosis with radiculopathy were denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his period of active duty.