Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2012

The Veteran's lumbar strain was granted service connection, and her bilateral foot disabilities are pending as the evidence is unclear.,Service connection for coxa saltans of the left hip was also granted.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran's low back, hip and migraine headaches disabilities were not shown to be related to service. The Board denied the claims for service connection.

The Board found that the Appellant does not have a disability of the middle and lower back attributable to his period of service ending on August 28, 2005. The RO determined that his second period of service from August 29, 2005, to September 7, 2006, was under dishonorable conditions for VA purposes and is a bar to VA benefits.

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

The Board found no evidence of a chronic lumbar spine disorder during service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's low back disorder and residuals of a head injury were not found to be related to service, but the Board did find that the Veteran's current residuals of a head injury are aggravated by his service-connected ischemic heart disease.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his active service or any service-connected disabilities.,The Board granted an initial compensable evaluation of 10% for right knee osteoarthritis/degenerative joint disease (DJD) and chondromalacia, effective from March 22, 2011.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted. Separate ratings of 10 percent each have been granted for his peripheral neuropathy in both lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development of the record, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a TDIU rating was denied by the Board, as his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to May 25, 2005.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for traumatic arthritis of the cervical and lumbar spine, as well as left lower extremity radiculopathy, was denied by the Board. The evidence did not support higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine was denied as there is no evidence showing ankylosis, incapacitating episodes, or other factors warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The issue of secondary service connection for bladder and bowel disorder was not adjudicated.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is not related to his military service and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability. The issues of diabetes mellitus, increased rating for residuals of right tibia fracture, and reopening of peripheral neuropathy of lower extremities are also being addressed.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain a supplemental/explanatory medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current lumbar spine/low back disability is related to his active service. The appeal will be considered on remand.

The case is being remanded for a videoconference hearing at the RO. The Veteran's claims regarding service connection and pension benefits are still under review.

The Veteran's left shoulder acromioclavicular osteoarthritis was granted service connection. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, including arthritis and degenerative disc disease L4-5 and L5-S1 with first degree spondylolisthesis of L-5, is rated at 40 percent since January 5, 2006.