Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2012

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus did not permanently increase in severity during his military service and denied all claims for secondary disabilities. The Board concluded that there was no evidence of a current hip, knee, or spine disability related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected DDD at L4-L5 with spondylosis and spondylolisthesis is currently rated 40 percent disabling. The Board found that the current state of impairment does not warrant referral for an extraschedular evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinus disorder, dental trauma, and an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbar spine DDD. The claim for lumbar spine DDD was rated at 10 percent.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his honorable period of service from April 19, 1977, to May 3, 1987. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, specifically hearing loss and urinary frequency. The Veteran's assertions of continuity of symptomatology are not supported by the evidence of record.

The VA determined that the Veteran does not have a current low back disability and thus, service connection cannot be granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his claimed conditions are not related to his military service.,There is no evidence of any in-service stressor that would support a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 10 percent prior to April 2, 2008 and increased to 20 percent thereafter. The right wrist disability was granted a 30 percent rating effective September 13, 2007. The radiculopathy of the right lower extremity received a separate evaluation of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent disability rating based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities has been granted, effective from April 11, 2008.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional examinations. The issues include service connection for various conditions, with some potentially related to in-service injuries or exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee, right hip, and lumbar spine as secondary to service-connected osteoarthritis of the right knee.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, right foot disorder, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), arthritis of the left hand and left index finger, back disorder, hemorrhoids, and vertigo as secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, hypertension (secondary to Agent Orange exposure), stomach growth, residuals of a gall bladder removal, chronic prostate infection (secondary to Agent Orange exposure), and erectile dysfunction (secondary to Agent Orange exposure).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is related to his active service, and granted service connection for this condition.,Additionally, the Board found sufficient evidence linking the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder to his service-connected low back disability, granting secondary service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's disability picture is not so exceptional as to render the schedular evaluation inadequate, and thus denied an extra-schedular rating for his low back disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed degenerative joint disease is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's cervical strain was initially rated as non-compensable from June 1, 2005 to April 20, 2010 and is now rated at 10 percent since April 21, 2010. The lumbosacral strain with muscle spasm has been rated as 10 percent since the onset of symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back and bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.