Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of the record, including obtaining private treatment records and providing a VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed disorders.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on his service-connected tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, PTSD, and lumbar spine disability claims has been denied. The maximum schedular evaluation of 10 percent is assigned for each condition.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted, but the RO denied an initial rating in excess of 50 percent and entitlement to a TDIU due to service-connected PTSD. The Veteran currently receives a 50 percent disability rating for his PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his low back disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a back disorder. The claim is therefore reopened.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including additional VA examinations to assess the severity of his back and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to a request for a video-conference hearing. The Veteran's claims for service connection and reopening of previously denied claims are pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection, evaluations for various conditions, and effective dates. The specific details of each issue are not provided.

The Board finds that the Veteran's low back disability is service-connected as it is more likely than not caused by or a result of his military service, specifically his parachute jumps and involvement in a motor vehicle accident.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing service personnel records.

The Board denied service connection for a low back condition and an increased rating for the right foot condition, finding that there was no causal relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his service or service-connected right foot disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's continuous symptoms of a back disorder since service, along with his credible assertions, outweigh any lack of medical nexus evidence. Therefore, service connection for a back disorder is granted.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including heel sprains, knee arthritis, ankle sprains, and low back disorder. The RO has assigned initial evaluations for these conditions, but the Veteran is seeking higher ratings.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated as 60 percent for IVDS with pronounced symptoms, including sciatic neuropathy and demonstrable deformity of a vertebral body. The right shoulder arthritis is not entitled to an increased rating.,The left shoulder arthritis warrants a separate 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the service connection claim for a hysterectomy, as well as increased ratings and TDIU claims. The Veteran will be provided with VA examinations and an addendum opinion regarding her hysterectomy claim.

The Veteran's residuals of a lumbosacral strain have not met the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent under VA rating criteria.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for the appellant's low back disability, but granted entitlement to a TDIU and service connection for secondary shoulder and cervical spine disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine and right ankle disabilities, but denied reopening on the merits as new evidence does not establish a direct link to service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for low back pain syndrome at L5-S1 and degenerative arthritis was denied. However, his claim for a higher initial rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy was granted with a 20% disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the VLJ who conducted his hearing no longer working at the Board. He will be given a new opportunity to testify before a Veterans Law Judge at the appropriate RO.