Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2011

The Veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected back disability and entitlement to TDIU. The case is being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records, conduct necessary examinations, and determine the current level of severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's right hand and thumb disability are service-connected as secondary to his service-connected left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome. The claim for chronic lumbosacral strain has been reopened, but the service connection is still denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine degenerative disease and found that the Veteran's current low back disability is due to injuries sustained during his active duty. For high blood sugar, there is no evidence of underlying pathology to which it can be attributed.

The Veteran's appeal includes claims for specially adapted housing, a special home adaptation grant, service connection for osteoporosis of the right knee and lumbar spine, and an increased rating for generalized osteoporosis with compression fracture of the T-11 spine. These issues are currently pending before the Board.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development of his private treatment records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected osteoarthritis of the spine and its associated lumbar radiculopathy.

The Veteran's spondylolysis with type I spondylolisthesis, lumbosacral joint is rated at 40 percent and has been increased to 60 percent effective May 11, 2010.,The Veteran meets the criteria for TDIU as his service-connected disability prevents him from obtaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of his claimed low back, right knee, and sciatica disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's complete service treatment records and to provide him with a VA examination. The claims will be readjudicated after all relevant evidence is considered.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back and cervical spine disorders are not related to service, as there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or continuity of symptomatology since discharge. The post-service treatment records do not support a nexus between current symptoms and service.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of shrapnel wounds to the right and left legs, as well as service connection for back, right foot, and left foot disorders secondary to these leg conditions. The Veteran's claims are now complete.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for the service-connected residuals of a strain of the lumbar spine was denied. The Board found that the residuals did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and left knee disabilities are not service-connected, as they were not incurred or aggravated by service. The current conditions do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to exposure to certain environments.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and arthritis may not be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the claim for service connection for a low back disability before the Board could make a decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by military service and arthritis may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for rhinitis (hay fever) and lumbar stenosis, status post laminectomy. The Board found that the preexisting conditions did not increase in severity during service and were not otherwise related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, as well as left leg radiculopathy. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is found to have its onset in service, while his left leg radiculopathy is found to be causally connected to his lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, finding that there was no evidence of arthritis within one year of service and rejecting the Veteran's assertion that his current back disability is due to his service-connected knee disabilities. The Board found the weight of the competent medical evidence against the Veteran's claim.

Your claim for service connection for a back disability has been granted by the May 2011 rating decision. The appeal is dismissed as moot.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder and acid reflux were not incurred or aggravated by service, and therefore denied both claims.