Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2012

The Board found no evidence of a back disorder during service and concluded that the current low back disorder is not related to service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected low back disability was granted, but his initial PTSD rating prior to November 8, 2004 and subsequent increased PTSD ratings are denied. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted while others were not.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a back condition with radiating pain into the legs was dismissed due to his withdrawal of that issue. The remaining issues regarding PTSD and TDIU prior to February 24, 2009 are still pending.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and attempting to obtain any additional records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical and lumbar spine injuries will be adjudicated based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his low back disability prior to January 14, 2005 was denied. The RO found that the evidence did not show unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least 6 weeks during the past 12 months.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete opinions and missing VA records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability is pending.

The Veteran's service connection claim for osteoarthritis in his thoracolumbar spine is granted. The RO also continued to deny the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for foot and ankle disorders, and for GERD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA psychiatric examination to determine the nature and extent of her service-connected psychiatric disability. A lumbar spine examination will also be scheduled.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hearing loss, residuals of head injury, adjustment disorder with depressed mood, hypertension, fatty liver, glucose intolerance, and lumbar degenerative arthritis. The decision also addressed a claim for overpayment of pension benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral heel bone spurs and degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine are currently rated at 10 percent each, with no higher evaluations granted. The claims for increased evaluations have been granted.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased rating were denied. The low back disorder claim was reopened but not granted. Bilateral knee disorder, malaria, and left elbow fracture claims remain denied.

The Veteran's PTSD claim was granted with a rating of 50 percent, and his lower back disorder claim remains pending. The TDIU claim is deferred until the PTSD claim is resolved.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for low back pain, but further development is needed to determine if a right ankle or foot disorder is also service-connected.,VA will obtain any additional VA medical records and provide an addendum to the July 2011 VA examination report.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death was not caused by any service-connected disability and denied DIC benefits.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a low back disability, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The Board has determined that further examination and opinion are needed to resolve the issue of causation.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability, residuals of facial fracture, and left hip disability on a secondary basis to the service-connected right ankle fracture.

The Veteran claims service connection for a cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine disorder that he contends is secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability. The Board finds the VA examination inadequate and remands the case for further development.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals found that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability was not incurred in or aggravated by military service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The appellant's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable due to their severity.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, including anxiety disorder, hemorrhoids, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, athlete's foot and toenail fungus, plantar fasciitis, sinus disability, high cholesterol, heart disability, back disability with sciatica, numbness of the right lower extremity, ruptured disc, neck injury, and left arm and shoulder disability. The Board found that there was no evidence to support these claims.