Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2011

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeals.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of medical records.

The Board granted the Veteran's claims for increased initial disability ratings, assigning a 10% rating for each of her service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for a back disability and coronary artery disease due to additional development being required, including obtaining relevant medical records from the Veteran's Social Security Administration (SSA) and VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination to assess functional loss due to pain and other manifestations during flare-ups or with repeated use.

The Veteran's neck disability is not service connected as he did not suffer a gunshot wound during military service. The low back strain claim is pending due to the need for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for low back and hip disorders on a secondary causation basis, as they are aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected bilateral patellofemoral syndrome. The claim for service connection of the bilateral foot disorder is remanded to obtain an addendum VA medical opinion.

The Board found that the Veteran's cerebral palsy was incurred during service and granted service connection. However, it determined that his low back disability did not have its clinical onset in service or is otherwise related to his active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current thoracolumbar and cervical spine disorders are not related to service, including as due to a motor vehicle accident. The knee disabilities were not sustained in service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the current severity of his low back disorder and quantify the degree of aggravation by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran has a combined disability rating of 70 percent with one disability rated at least 40 percent disabling. However, he is employed as a full-time pool maintenance technician and misses approximately three weeks of work per year due to his service-connected disabilities.

Your claims of service connection for right hip arthritis, left hip arthritis, and a low back disability have been fully granted by the VA in June 2011. These benefits are now effective as of that date.

The Veteran's low back disability has been manifested by forward flexion of no less than 75 degrees and combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine of no less than 150 degrees; there is no evidence of intervertebral disc syndrome, associated neurological deficit or ankylosis. The criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent have not been met.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable as his combined disability rating is only 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records related to the Veteran's back disability. The claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various elbow, shoulder, knee, hip, and low back disorders have been denied. The Board found no evidence to support the establishment of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining SSA records. The issue of entitlement to TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating adjustments were granted, with the exception of his claim for a separate 10 percent rating for sciatic nerve involvement in each lower extremity. The effective date is not specified.

The Board denied reopening the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a back disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is evaluated at a 30 percent rating, which reflects occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. The Veteran has not met the criteria for higher ratings.