Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2012

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral ankle disorders, lumbar spine disorder, and shoulder disorders. The disabilities are currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board denied service connection for back and left knee disabilities, finding that they were not related to the Veteran's active duty service or secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board granted service connection for lumbar spine disability and septal deviation, with effective dates of January 18, 1996. The Veteran's initial evaluation for his lumbar spine disability was increased to 20 percent from January 19, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability and IBS did not have onset in service or are otherwise related to his military service, thus denying both claims.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability. The evidence shows that his low back disability is related to his experiences on active duty.

The Veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates and service connection was denied. The RO granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine with a 40 percent rating, and GERD with a 30 percent rating, both effective January 8, 2010.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, as there is no evidence showing a current disability related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and obtaining relevant medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining records related to his disability retirement and VA examination of his cervical and lumbar spine disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for VA examination and records from San Juan VAMC and USPS. The issue remains about an increased disability evaluation for his service-connected condition.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal regarding the issues of service connection for sinusitis, bilateral ankle sprain and thoracolumbar spine strain.

The Veteran is seeking an increased initial evaluation for his service-connected muscle strain, lumbar spine. The case is REMANDED to obtain updated treatment records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and issuing a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and whether it is related to service. The Veteran asserts he injured his back while serving on the USS Midway in or around 1953, but there are no medical records from this period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine and radiculopathy of his right lower extremity are related to his military service, granting both claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and erectile dysfunction have been remanded by the Board due to procedural issues. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA orthopedic examination to diagnose all disabilities of the lumbar, thoracic, and cervical spine. The examiner will also provide an opinion on whether each diagnosed back disability is related to service or to the service-connected bilateral ankle disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability and lower extremity disabilities, including peripheral neuropathy and radiculopathy, were not incurred or aggravated by military service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for further development of the Veteran's claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disorder, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine status post microdiskectomy, is due to his in-service injury and service connection for this condition is granted.