Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. Service connection was granted for some conditions, but no new or material evidence was presented to reopen other service-connected claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back condition, hypertension, and heart disease. The claim for tinnitus was granted with a 10% rating.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and evaluation of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for an examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's fibromyalgia, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability are related to his service-connected disabilities. The case will be returned to the RO/AMC for further development.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and clarifying the Veteran's desire to continue his appeal.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for DDD of the lumbar spine at L4-L5, secondary to service-connected degenerative changes of the bilateral knees. The case is now remanded for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently diagnosed lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, increased ratings for his degenerative lumbar spine disease and knee conditions, and an initial compensable evaluation for his mood disorder. The claim for a TDIU effective date prior to June 17, 2009 was also addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal, leaving no issues for the Board to consider.

The Veteran's lumbosacral disc disease is currently rated at 10 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other factors.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding his in-service injury and its relationship to his current back disorder.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional information and possibly another VA examination, as the current opinion from the September 2010 VA examiner is deemed inadequate.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder did not onset during service and is not causally related to service. As such, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, right hand, and neuropathy disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by his active duty military service.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was denied as his combined rating is 60 percent, which does not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and denied an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss prior to June 4, 2010.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain with root compression due to spondylolisthesis is rated at 20 percent prior to April 1, 2009 and at 40 percent from that date. The right lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent since August 17, 2011. The left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 10 percent since August 15, 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's IBS and lumbosacral strain are etiologically related to his active service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a Travel Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO.

Your claim of service connection for a back disability has been granted, and you are now receiving a 20 percent rating effective October 5, 2010.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing an etiological opinion regarding his right knee and low back disorders.