Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is related to an injury sustained during active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected conditions, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and clarification of his current employment status.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for a more comprehensive medical opinion and updated treatment records.

The Veteran's DDD of the lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent, effective September 26, 2007. He also has separate ratings for peripheral neuropathy of his right and left lower extremities (10% each).

The Veteran's cause of death, sepsis due to a perforated cecum caused by metastatic cancer, is not service-connected as the lung cancer did not have its onset during his military service and was not related to any service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation, finding that his lumbar disc disease warranted a maximum rating of 40 percent since January 8, 1996.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back disorder is unrelated to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various disabilities, including psychiatric disability, erectile dysfunction, chronic labyrinthitis, pansinusitis, headache disability, low back disability, neck disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and bilateral hip disability. The Veteran's claims are pending with the RO via the Appeals Management Center in Washington, D.C.

The appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an opinion regarding whether the current low back disability is a progression of lumbosacral strain in service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease (DJD) and degenerative disc disease (DDD) is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further examination of her service-connected conditions. The issues on appeal include increased ratings for left shoulder bursitis, thoracolumbar spine, PTSD, and allergic sinusitis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and occupational experience, effective December 6, 2011.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if there has been an actual change in the Veteran's low back disability and whether any improvement indicates an improvement in his ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Veteran's back disability is found to have been incurred in service, with the Board granting service connection.

The Veteran's initial rating for his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is being remanded due to inadequate examination findings and need for additional medical opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability, diagnosed as chronic lumbar sprain with right sided radiculopathy and spondylosis, was aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability. The claim for TBI residuals other than post-traumatic headaches is remanded due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent effective from February 25, 2011. He also has separate ratings for radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and granted a non-compensable rating for his hemorrhoids.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current gastrointestinal disorder and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The claim for service connection of a low back disability remains pending.