Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2012

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a direct relationship between any of these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disease with old T12 fracture and degenerative disc disease has been rated at 20 percent since the date of claim for increased rating, effective from February 2, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's low back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy are not rated higher than the current assigned ratings.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder and bilateral hip disorder, but it is unclear whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's lumbosacral strain. The TDIU claim is also on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical, seronegative spondyloarthropathy, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine are not related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and therefore denied the claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Veteran's low back disability, characterized by significant loss of range of motion and functional impairment, warrants a 40 percent rating since June 11, 2002.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and providing a new VA examination. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disability will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's back disorder, diagnosed as chronic lumbosacral strain with mild disk space narrowing at L2-L5, is etiologically related to active service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, claimed as secondary to her service-connected muscle strain of the low back, is being remanded due to inadequate VA examination and need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal involves claims for service connection for a back disability and an increased evaluation for his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, including those from the U.S. Postal Service and Social Security Administration, and to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine if his back disability was aggravated by his GAD.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's degenerative changes of the lumbar spine with stenosis have been rated at 40 percent since October 26, 2010. This rating is based on disability comparable to forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less due to pain and fatigability on repetitive motion.

The Board has remanded the case for additional examination and medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's low back disability is related to his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disorders, right hip/thigh disorder, left hip/thigh disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder are not related to military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has reopened multiple service connection claims but denied some of them due to lack of new and material evidence. The effective dates for certain benefits have been adjusted, while others remain pending.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability, with associated radiculopathy of the lower extremities, is currently rated at 50 percent. The appeal for higher ratings has been granted.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new examination. The appeal will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.