Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder and left shoulder disorders, right ankle disorder, urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and loss of use of a creative organ. The decision also addressed his claim for an increased rating for his service-connected dorsolumbar paravertebral myositis.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a video conference hearing. The appeal is not yet decided on the merits of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disabilities, including degenerative discogenic and osteoarthritic changes at L4-L5 and a lumbar strain, are related to his active service.

The Veteran's TDIU rating was granted effective November 1, 2002. The Board previously remanded the case to determine if his service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable prior to this date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is not related to service and therefore, does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine and pelvis disabilities, finding no evidence of a nexus to service or any other compensable condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus, right knee instability, and right knee painful motion was denied. The RO also did not assign a compensable rating for right knee limitation of motion prior to May 25, 2011, or grant a greater than 10 percent rating from that date.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine resulted in limited forward flexion to 60 degrees, without evidence of ankylosis. The Board found that this did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the Veteran's receipt of disability benefits from Social Security Administration and other procedural purposes.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected low back disability did not meet or approximate criteria for a rating in excess of 60 percent, as there was no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis of the entire spine, incapacitating episodes of disc disease, or additional (to radiculopathy of both lower extremities) separately ratable neurological manifestations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination to address the etiology of the Veteran's back disability and arthritis.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and need for an adequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's low back disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and back disorders, finding new and material evidence. The conditions are considered secondary to his service-connected residuals of a right ankle fracture.

The Veteran's service connection for chest pain was denied. He received a noncompensable rating for low back strain effective April 7, 2005, which was later increased to 10 percent in May 2012. The claimant is not entitled to an increase in the rating for his low back strain beyond 10 percent.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a total abdominal hysterectomy is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has residuals of a total abdominal hysterectomy as a result of chronic pelvic inflammatory disease incurred in her military service, and affords the benefit-of-the-doubt to grant this claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone require the regular use of a wheelchair.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for lumbosacral degenerative osteoarthritis and lumbar strain. The Board finds that the Veteran's back disorder is related to his military service, including a combat injury sustained during World War II.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder and a cervical spine disorder, finding no evidence of current disability related to service.,Service records did not show any injury or abnormality in the shoulders during service. Multiple VA examinations found no current residuals from putative service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's low back disability, characterized by pain and stiffness, is currently rated at 10 percent under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.