Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability and right shoulder disability are not related to his military service, and therefore denied both claims.

The case is being remanded for an adequate etiological opinion due to the noncompliance with the Board's March 2010 remand.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability and assigned a 10 percent rating. The Veteran's current low back disability is considered to be directly related to his military service, with evidence of in-service injury and ongoing symptoms since then.

The Veteran's low back pain, including DJD, was evaluated at a 10 percent rating from April 11, 2005 to July 25, 2010. The disability did not meet the criteria for an increased rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic residuals of a cholecystectomy, to include a scar. The claim for service connection for lumbar spine disability is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted for his back, neck, right knee, left knee, or frostbite residuals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder, diagnosed as minimal changes of spondylosis deformans at L5, L4, and L1 with low back strain, first manifested during active duty in 2005. The Board found a continuity of symptoms after service and concluded that there was sufficient credible medical evidence to support the diagnosis. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

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

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability was not incurred or aggravated in service and is not etiologically related to service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to make a decision on the Veteran's claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and arranging for examinations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to clarify whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder was aggravated during active service and to obtain relevant medical records. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is denied as his disability does not meet or approximate criteria warranting a higher rating. The current 20 percent evaluation adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed back and skin conditions, including whether they are related to service or any in-service exposure. The claims are being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's back disability was rated at 10 percent prior to April 4, 2009 and at 20 percent thereafter. The GERD with IBS rating remained at 30 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability was not caused by any incident of service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical myositis with discogenic disease and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine are being remanded to allow for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and ensuring all Spanish documents are translated.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent from June 29, 2011 onward. The appeal for higher ratings remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder, including degenerative disc disease, did not manifest in service or for years thereafter and is not related to his active service.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for a head contusion and dizziness, but the case is REMANDED to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's low back disability, left leg length discrepancy, and service-connected residuals of left hip fracture.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical and low back disabilities have not been related to his service-connected residuals of a fracture of the left clavicle, either causally or by aggravation. Therefore, service connection for these conditions was denied.