Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2012

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that service connection is warranted for degenerative lumbar spine with sacroiliac joint dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.,Service connection is also granted for depressive disorder, found to be at least as likely as not caused by the Veteran's service-connected degenerative lumbar spine with sacroiliac joint dysfunction.

The Board found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was not incurred or aggravated by his military service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine is currently rated at 10 percent, with a separate 10 percent rating for mild impairment of the sciatic nerve in the left lower extremity. The disability picture does not warrant higher ratings under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for bilateral tinnitus and service connection for a low back disability were denied. The Board found that the highest possible rating for his tinnitus was 10 percent, which is the maximum allowed under VA regulations. For the low back disability claim, the examiner did not find any evidence of an in-service injury or event related to the Veteran's current condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and a back disorder have been reopened. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA examinations and further development of the claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back disorder and toe disorder have been denied as there is no medical evidence of current disabilities at any point during the pendency of this claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, prostate disorder, arthritis of major joints other than the knees, low back disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or an in-service event that could be linked to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations were denied. The Board found that the current disability ratings assigned are appropriate.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic low back disability in service and the Veteran's hypertension is not related to his military service. The claim for service connection for both conditions is denied.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a lumbar spine disability. The Board has determined that additional development is needed and the case is being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, right leg disorder, left hip disorder, hearing loss, and respiratory disorder. The low back strain claim was also denied as it did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for VA examinations and medical opinions regarding aggravation of pre-existing conditions during active duty.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disorder. The Veteran reported experiencing back pain since his discharge from active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea and assigned a 20 percent disability rating. The Veteran's cervical spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of the grant of service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran did not file a timely substantive appeal of the December 2009 rating decision denying service connection for bronchovascular markings, left lung, from pneumonia and lung collapse. The claim for right knee condition was granted based on resolving the benefit of doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a fractured coccyx, low back disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, bladder disability, bowel disability, right leg disability, and left leg disability. The case is remanded for further development including obtaining SSA records, providing a VA examination, and readjudication.